Ticks, those tiny little creatures that many pet owners and outdoor enthusiasts dread, are the main focus of one Ontario residentB次元官网网址檚 research, as he fights to discover more about Lyme disease.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a subject that really hits home for scientist John Scott.

B次元官网网址淚 contracted Lyme disease 30 years ago. Both my wife and I have it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of people are not aware of it B次元官网网址� In the case of my wife and I, itB次元官网网址檚 destroyed our lives.B次元官网网址�

Scott, who lives in Fergus, Ont., has published 25 peer-reviewed articles on the topic with the help of groups from across the country. Aiding in his research, is Christina Carrieres, senior wildlife rehabilitator at the BC SPCAB次元官网网址檚 Wild ARC in Metchosin.

B次元官网网址淢y primary goal right from day one was to figure out what was going on across Canada in terms of Lyme disease,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥ne thing led to another and IB次元官网网址檝e been (receiving) quite a few ticks from birds and mammals.B次元官网网址�

Scott recently co-authored a scientific article that focused on ticks collected from gallinaceous birds (domestic poultry and game) on the southeastern portion of Vancouver Island. Included in that research, a tick collected by Carrieres testing positive.

B次元官网网址淲e started getting involved in the project in 2012,B次元官网网址� she said. Staff at the Metchosin facility have collected 50 specimens from 16 different species of animals for several of ScottB次元官网网址檚 research projects.

Of six ticks focused on in the most recently published article, one was collected in Metchosin and another in Highlands. The third local tick, the only one to test positive for Lyme disease, was collected in Saanich from an orphaned baby California quail. The other three were collected in Courtenay, Royston and Ladysmith.

B次元官网网址淟yme disease is certainly a disease more and more people are worried about,B次元官网网址� Carrieres  said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a disease that can do a lot of damage.B次元官网网址�

But she doesnB次元官网网址檛 want to alarm local residents. B次元官网网址淚t is present, but there are ways of protecting ourselves,B次元官网网址� she said.

For those who are out in the wild, Scott suggests a full body tick check upon return and B次元官网网址渁nyone handling game birds should have protective gear.B次元官网网址�

As ticks can carry more than just Lyme disease, anyone bitten by one should get an antibiotic treatment right away. Otherwise, Scott said, youB次元官网网址檙e playing B次元官网网址淩ussian rouletteB次元官网网址� with your health. Since 2012, two of the 50 specimens collected by the Wild ARC have tested positive for the disease. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really hard to draw conclusions on small numbers, but weB次元官网网址檝e seen an increase.B次元官网网址�

Some of that could be due to the local climate, she added, noting that milder winters donB次元官网网址檛 kill off as many ticks as the harsher climate in other areas. While deer are frequently connected to discussions around Lyme disease, they are not the main species from which ticks are being collected. B次元官网网址淏irds are quite efficient at spreading it,B次元官网网址� Carrieres said, noting thatB次元官网网址檚 not only migratory birds, but such non-migratory species as quail.

ScottB次元官网网址檚 research backs that up. B次元官网网址淚 have a lot of data to show itB次元官网网址檚 widespread B次元官网网址� We found 31 per cent of ticks on songbirds were infected,B次元官网网址� he said.

But his recent paper doesnB次元官网网址檛 just point to Lyme disease being present in the area, it is also the first evidence of a tick being found on a quail in Canada. While that in itself is noteworthy, Scott said the types of ticks found on the Island is cause for concern.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got ticks there that IB次元官网网址檓 firstly surprised that are there, and IB次元官网网址檓 surprised theyB次元官网网址檙e infected,B次元官网网址� he said.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 where Carrieres comes in.

B次元官网网址淲ildlife rehabilitators have a unique opportunity to contribute to the scientific community B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 so valuable to try to learn as much as we can.B次元官网网址�

Often, the individuals or groups conducting such research donB次元官网网址檛 have firsthand access to a wide range of subjects, she said.

Wildlife rehabilitation centres can contribute by preserving found items such as ticks and sending them off to be tested, she added. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e always happy to help and see what comes out of it.B次元官网网址�

Raising awareness is what Scott hopes to get from all of his research.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 scary if you know someone whoB次元官网网址檚 got this disease and how sick theyB次元官网网址檝e been,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e work away at this and try to make a difference.B次元官网网址�

Carrieres noted Lyme disease is just a part of why Wild ARC has strict protocols for handling animals, not just for workersB次元官网网址� safety, but for the safety of the animals.

All the more reason he said, B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 really important that the ticks should be kept and tested.B次元官网网址�

katie@goldstreamgazette.com