First report of the deer ked, Lipoptena cervi, and associated pathogens in southern Québec, Canada

Catherine Bouchard ^1,2,3, Ariane Dumas ^1,2, Elizabeth Dyer ^1,2

¹Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
²Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
³Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
⁴Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
⁵Département de santé animale, CÉGEP de Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
⁶Direction de la gestion de la faune de l'Estrie, de Montréal, de la Montérégie et de Laval, Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte aux Changements Climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
⁷Mycobacteriology, Vector-borne and Prion Diseases Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
⁸Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.

⁰Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.

Journal of Medical Entomology +

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February 21, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Deer keds (Lipoptena cervi), an invasive species, have been detected for the first time in Québec, Canada. This study also identified potentially public health-relevant pathogens within these ticks, raising concerns for wildlife and human health.

Area Of Science

Veterinary Entomology
Wildlife Disease Ecology
Parasitology

Background

Deer keds (Lipoptena cervi) are an introduced European ectoparasite of deer.
This species is known to be expanding its range across North America.
The presence of deer keds can have implications for wildlife health and potentially transmit pathogens.

Purpose Of The Study

To document the first established population of deer keds (L. cervi) in Québec, Canada.
To map the current distribution of deer keds in the Estrie region.
To investigate the presence of pathogens in deer keds that may be relevant to public health.

Main Methods

Collected deer keds (L. cervi) from harvested white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Estrie region of southern Québec.
Used molecular methods to detect Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in collected deer keds.
Applied a spatial scan statistic to identify significant clusters of deer ked infestation.

Main Results

Deer keds (L. cervi) were detected in 5.5% of harvested white-tailed deer sampled.
Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were detected in 1/44 and 8/44 deer ked specimens, respectively.
A statistically significant spatial cluster of deer ked infestation was identified in southern Estrie.

Conclusions

This study confirms the establishment of deer keds (L. cervi) in Québec, Canada, marking a significant range expansion.
The detection of Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum highlights potential public health risks associated with this invasive species.
Further surveillance and research are warranted to understand the ecological and epidemiological impact of deer keds in North America.

Keywords:

deer deer keds hunter lipoptena range expansion