The provincial government of Nova Scotia has allocated $1.2 million to Acadia University’s laboratory for ongoing research on tick-borne diseases prevention and management. Nicoletta Faraone, who heads the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre, emphasized the vital role of this funding in establishing and advancing the lab’s operations.
The funding will primarily support the lab’s surveillance program, which focuses on identifying the tick species present in the region, the pathogens they carry, and their responses to repellents and attractants. Tick bites can transmit various diseases like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis to humans, making this research crucial for public health.
With cutting-edge equipment at the lab, the pathogen-testing process will be expedited, enhancing the understanding of ticks and enabling better preparedness to minimize tick exposure. The Research Nova Scotia’s Focused Research Initiative, funded by the Department of Advanced Education, provided this financial support.
Stefan Leslie, the CEO of Research Nova Scotia, highlighted the growing significance of tick-borne diseases and the necessity for practical research solutions beyond laboratory settings. The latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada revealed a considerable increase in reported Lyme disease cases, with Nova Scotia alone accounting for 40% of national cases in 2024.
Furthermore, the federal government is contributing $455,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to Acadia University’s tick research project. This additional funding will enable the lab to continue its efforts in breeding ticks locally, a significant advancement that allows for in-depth genetic studies of Canadian ticks and potential revenue generation by selling specimens to other researchers globally.
The initiative has already commenced with ticks collected throughout different seasons, laying eggs for the expansion of tick colonies under optimal environmental conditions. This strategic approach aims to enhance knowledge about tick behaviors and genetics for better disease prevention and management.