A laboratory at Acadia University in Nova Scotia is set to receive $1.2 million in funding from the provincial government to further their research on preventing and managing tick-borne diseases. Nicoletta Faraone, who heads the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre, emphasized the crucial role of these funds in establishing and expanding the lab’s capabilities.
The allocated funds will be utilized for the lab’s surveillance program, which focuses on identifying the types of ticks present in the region, the pathogens they carry, and their responses to repellents and attractants. These blood-feeding arachnids have the potential to transmit various diseases, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, to humans through their bites.
Faraone highlighted the lab’s advanced equipment, which will enhance the efficiency of pathogen testing processes. The primary objective of the research is to deepen the understanding of ticks and enhance preparedness in minimizing exposure to tick bites.
The financial support stems from Research Nova Scotia’s Focused Research Initiative, backed by the Department of Advanced Education. Stefan Leslie, the CEO of Research Nova Scotia, stressed the importance of moving research efforts beyond the laboratory to address the escalating challenges posed by tick-borne diseases.
Recent data from the Public Health Agency of Canada revealed an increasing trend in Lyme disease cases, with over 5,800 reported instances nationwide in 2024, including 2,350 cases in Nova Scotia alone. Additionally, other tick-borne illnesses such as anaplasmosis are on the rise, with a notable surge in reported cases since Nova Scotia classified it as a notifiable disease in 2023.
In a bid to further support the research, the federal government is contributing an additional $455,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. This funding will enable the lab to sustain its operations, including the development of a tick-breeding program.
Previously reliant on purchasing ticks from the sole known tick-breeding facility in North America, the Acadia lab will now have the capacity to breed ticks locally. This initiative allows researchers to delve into the genetic composition of Canadian ticks and presents a revenue-generating opportunity by selling specimens to tick researchers nationwide and internationally.
The breeding program has already commenced, with ticks collected during the fall, spring, and summer seasons. Faraone expressed optimism about the future prospects of the lab’s tickery and emphasized the importance of monitoring environmental conditions for optimal tick colony growth.