Lyme Disease

Caused by the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme is an emerging tick-borne disease. In Canada, populations of infected ticks are established in parts of southern Ontario, the southeastern corner of Manitoba, areas along the south shore of Nova Scotia and in BC. The disease can be characterized by special rash (i.e. erythema migrans) at an early stage. If untreated, in the later stages, the disease can involve major organ systems such as musculoskeletal, nervous, and cardiovascular systems.

• Fact Sheet
• It's Your Health - Lyme Disease
• Tick information
• Lyme disease - Transfusion Transmitted Diseases/Infections Information
• Borrelia burgdorferi - Material Safety Data Sheet - Infectious Substances

Canada Communicable Disease Report (CCDR)

• First Isolation of Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from Blacklegged Tick, Ixodes scapularis, Collected at Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario (2000)
• Identification d'Ixodes scapularis à Terre-Neuve, Canada (2000)
• First isolation of Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, removed from a bird in Nova Scotia, Canada (1999)
• Vector of Lyme Borreliosis, Ixodes Scapularis, identified in Saskatchewan (1999)
• Distribution of Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis re Concurrent Babesiosis and Lyme Disease (1998)
• Concurrent Babesiosis and Lyme Disease Diagnosed in Ontario (1998)
• Lyme Disease - United States, 1996 (1997)
• Isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi - Thunder Bay District, Ontario (1996)

See Also:

• Canadian Health Network - Lyme Disease
• Canadian Immunization Guide - Sixth Edition - 2002
• Case Definitions for Diseases Under National Surveillance (2000)