Canadians now have another tick-borne disease to worry about, researchers say

Dr. Isaac Bogoch on the surge of Lyme disease cases in Canada, while experts warn of other tick-borne illnesses.

Canadians exploring the outdoors this summer are being warned about threats other than Lyme disease from tick bites as cases rise. While Lyme disease is the most common concern about ticks, health officials are increasingly worried about another tick-borne disease called anaplasmosis.

Experts reported their concerns about the “rapidly rising” incidents of anaplasmosis, the second most common disease spread by the arachnids in Canada, in an article published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

Blacklegged ticks, which transmit Lyme disease and anaplasmosis through bites, have spread in many provinces, researchers noted.

No statistics were provided on the number of anaplasmosis cases nationally in the report.

In the CMAJ report, researchers described the case of a 79-year-old man from a rural area in eastern Ontario who had shown up at a community hospital this month with “fatigue, chills and generalized weakness that led to a fall.”

He tested positive for anaplasmosis that resulted in acute myocarditis, but eventually recovered after treatment.

“Given the cardiac complications caused by anaplasmosis, we planned a 14-day course of oral doxycycline, which would also treat any possible coinfection with Lyme disease,” researchers wrote.

“The patient’s cognition normalized within 24 to 48 hours, and his blood counts, renal function, and liver (enzymes) gradually improved for the remainder of his hospitalization.”

After eight days, the man was “discharged in stable condition.” He was then prescribed bisoprolol for a heart-related issue. A four-month follow-up found that he was “asymptomatic.”

What are the symptoms?

Experts say symptoms can include fever, weakness, headache and gastrointestinal distress.

Anaplasmosis can damage vital organs, causing hospitalization from health problems such as myocarditis, encephalitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and acute renal failure, though they are less common and death is rare, experts say.

Is there a treatment?

Recognizing the disease early and getting treatment can prevent “life-threatening complications,” according to the report.

The current treatment recommended is 100 mg of oral doxycycline, twice a day for 10 to 14 days, researchers wrote. Patients typically improve within 24 to 48 hours of treatment, they added, but if there is no change, health-care providers should consider “alternative diagnoses.”

Patients should consult infectious disease specialists about alternative antibiotics if they are pregnant or have life-threatening allergies to doxycycline, they added.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent anaplasmosis.

Patients may be more vulnerable to ticks if they have close contact with deer or pets, or haven’t used preventive measures such as DEET and protective clothing, experts said.