From Prey to Hunter: Training Park Workers to Carry Out Tick Collection as an Alternative Approach for Lyme Disease Vector Surveillance

Abstract

CONTEXT Lyme disease (LD) has become a major public health concern in Canada, with flannel-dragging being the gold-standard approach for active tick surveillance. Limited resources hinders proper deployment of this surveillance in Quebec, prompting the exploration of alternatives. A participatory project was therefore developed to explore a new tick sampling scheme based on training of park workers. This training was first implemented in fall 2017 and is also scheduled for spring 2018. OBJECTIVESDevelop and validate a training targeting park employees to (1) allow them to carry out tick sampling activities autonomously and (2) inform them about LD prevention. INTERVENTIONTraining session was developed using governmental material. It combined a theoretical lecture covering basic concepts of LD and a practical segment in which workers carried out a first tick sampling under trainer’s supervision. Subsequently, participants were asked to carry an unsupervised sampling at the same location but on a different day. Ticks collected during samplings were identified and screened for pathogens. Evaluation of the training was done by phone interviews with park managers.OUTCOMEIn fall 2017, 64 workers were trained in 8 parks located in health regions with known LD endemic areas (Monteregie, Mauricie-Centre-du-Quebec, Estrie and Outaouais). All parks were sampled once during the training and half of them managed to carry independent samplings. Overall, 38 LD ticks vector were collected. High appreciation of the training and increased awareness of LD risk among workers were highlighted following evaluationCONCLUSIONAn innovative tick collection method involving workers was explored and will be validated in spring 2018. Such approach could potentially improve active tick surveillance activities while promoting occupational preventive measures. Similar initiatives could be implemented on a larger scale in the future to enhance LD surveillance in Canada.