McGill University
Candidat Ph.D.
superviseur(e): Virginie Millien
Simon Anderson, The University of the West Indies
Début: 2023-09-01

Projet

Mapping the Risk of Human Tick-borne Illnesses in Barbados
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 80% of the global human population is at risk of contracting a vector-borne disease (VBD) in their lifetime. VBDs place large burdens on health care systems, human quality of life, and economic sectors. Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are particularly diverse and widespread, affecting both human and non-human species. There are few recorded cases of human TBDs in the Caribbean, but a total of 56 tick species and 42 tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) exist in non-human populations. These pathogens are known to cause several human tick-borne diseases (TBDs). Despite the presence of these TBPs and TBDs, human TBD risk in the Caribbean has not been thoroughly studied. As such, we hypothesize that there is an undocumented and underestimated risk of human TBDs in the Caribbean. We have chosen to focus our study on Barbados because it is the most densely populated Caribbean island and a regional tourism hub, making it well-suited for the study of TBP and TBD spread and distribution. The objective of this research is to 1. Review current knowledge and existing data on TBDs in the Caribbean and neighbouring regions. 2. Conduct field collections of ticks in distinct habitats and ecosystems across the island and screen them for pathogens. 3. Conduct surveys and interviews to capture the risk knowledge of the population and identify behaviours associated with increased risk of exposure to tick bites. 4. Develop models to forecast the risk for TBDs at a fine spatial scale, today and in the future under global change. And 5. Develop an online platform following the Canadian model of “e-tick” through which education tools and media will be broadcasted to the public and used to implement a surveillance program based on citizen-science contribution. This research will advance the scientific understanding of TBDs in the Caribbean, establish a surveillance program, promote awareness within the local population, and strengthen the ability of Caribbean countries to improve and promote public health regarding TBDs.