Protocol for 'Tick Surveillance Systems in North America: A Scoping Review'
Date
2021-07
Journal Title
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Abstract
Introduction: Tick surveillance is important to detect new ticks or changes in tick occurrence and
distribution within a region. This facilitates communication of and response to changes in tick
distribution. Tick surveillance systems also provide a framework from which to assess tick-borne
disease carriage. This information can be used to launch further investigation and inform risk
assessments and mitigation strategies for tick-borne disease in people and animals. For example,
many tick surveillance systems focus on blacklegged ticks, like Ixodes scapularis, that can carry
Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Lyme disease can cause clinical signs
such as erythema migrans, meningitis, cranial neuropathy, arthritis, carditis (1 ) in people and some
animal species like dogs and horses. White-footed mice and other small mammals are important
natural reservoirs of the bacteria while deer and other mammals can carry the ticks (2,3). Hard ticks
(Family: Ixodidae) are found in an increasingly broad range of environments as climate change
apparently makes it possible for them to survive in regions where they had not previously been
found (4). Lyme disease, and other tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and
Anaplasmosis, are a One Health problem, at the interface between human health, animal health, and
the environment.
Objectives: The primary objective of this scoping review is to describe the characteristics of tick
surveillance systems from 1960 onward. This research will focus on reviewing published and grey
literature and then describing the characteristics of tick surveillance systems, including
location, year, type of surveillance, and method of data collection.
Methods: This scoping review will be carried out following PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews.
Databases used include MEDLINE, CAB Abstracts, BIOSIS Previews and the Web of Science Core
Collection. ProQuest Dissertations will be searched for relevant dissertations. The articles will
be screened at the title and abstract, and full text levels by two reviewers blinded to each
other's assessment. Articles published prior to 1960 will be excluded, and only articles that
describe surveillance systems will be included. Government websites will also be searched for
information about tick surveillance programs, globally.
Description
Public Health Agency of Canada, Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund
Keywords
Hard ticks (Ixodidae), Surveillance Systems, Scoping Review Protocol
Citation
Romney, E., Cork, S., Envik, A., Ganshorn, H., Couloigner, I., & Checkley, S. (2021). Protocol for 'Tick Surveillance Systems in North America: A Scoping Review' [Protocol]. Unviersity of Calgary, Calgary, AB.