Detections of Babesia odocoilei in Ixodes pacificus and Babesia microti in Ixodes angustus Ticks in British Columbia, Canada.

BACKGROUND

Surveillance of tick-borne pathogens is important to inform risks to human and animal health. Through active surveillance, we have detected the continued presence of both Babesia odocoilei since its first detection in 2019 and Babesia microti in British Columbia (BC).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Tick drag sampling was conducted across four regions of the province using a protocol developed by the Canadian Lyme Sentinel Network. Captured ticks were identified morphologically, and pathogens were tested for Borrelia species, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia species, and Powassan virus.

RESULTS

B. odocoilei was detected in four Ixodes pacificus nymphs, and B. microti was detected in two Ixodes angustus ticks (1 nymph and 1 female).

CONCLUSIONS

B. odocoilei and B. microti continue to be detected in BC ticks. Ongoing surveillance and monitoring of tick populations in BC is essential to characterize the emergence and spread of tick-borne pathogens in the province.