Wayne Uhlman from Lunenburg County experienced extreme fatigue during a recent visit to his doctor. He was so shaky from cold chills that he could not even hold a glass properly. Following a trip to the emergency room, Uhlman underwent intravenous fluid treatment, a blood test, and was prescribed a 21-day course of antibiotics.
It was not until two weeks later that Uhlman discovered he had tested positive for anaplasmosis, a bacterial disease transmitted by ticks and increasingly prevalent in Nova Scotia. Despite claiming he had never had a tick attached to him for more than a few hours, Uhlman became one of the 245 reported cases in Nova Scotia as of July 13, according to the Department of Health and Wellness.
The rise in tick populations across Canada, potentially due to prolonged warmer seasons, has led to an increase in anaplasmosis cases, making it the second most common tick-borne illness after Lyme disease. Nova Scotia began reporting anaplasmosis as a notifiable disease in 2023, with 317 cases logged. Last year, the number rose to 681 cases.
Although Uhlman believed the tick was on him for a brief period, research suggests that ticks can transmit the bacterium causing anaplasmosis in as little as four hours. Symptoms of anaplasmosis are similar to those of the flu, such as fever, chills, and headache, which typically resolve on their own. However, some individuals may remain asymptomatic as the infection progresses.
Unlike Lyme disease, which often presents with a characteristic bull’s-eye rash, anaplasmosis rarely results in a rash. Doxycycline, an antibiotic commonly used to treat both anaplasmosis and Lyme disease, is prescribed by doctors based on symptoms and medical history while awaiting lab results to expedite recovery.
Dr. Glenn Patriquin, an infectious diseases physician at Nova Scotia Health, emphasized the acute nature of anaplasmosis, stating that long-term effects are extremely rare. Although the disease has also been identified in pets, there is no evidence of transmission between humans and animals.
In rare instances, anaplasmosis can be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants, or from mother to baby during pregnancy, according to the Department of Health and Wellness in Nova Scotia. Seniors and individuals with underlying health conditions are at a higher risk of severe illness from anaplasmosis.
Preventing tick bites through vigilant checks remains the primary defense against tick-borne diseases. Uhlman has fully recovered from anaplasmosis and hopes that sharing his story will increase public awareness of a disease that can manifest with varying symptoms or no symptoms at all.
“The word should be out there because most people think Lyme disease and the bull’s-eye,” Uhlman remarked. “There’s no bull’s-eye with this, so if you get a tick on you, you should be concerned if you start to feel sick.”
