Looking at Lyme

In this episode, Sarah speaks with Canadian entomologist Janet Sperling, who specializes in tick microbiomes. Sarah sets the stage with a quick history of Lyme disease, including how it got its name and how long it’s been around. We’ll find out why it’s important to know the different kinds of ticks found in Canada and what habitats they need to survive. 

Janet Sperling explains how ticks are able to stay attached for days and how they transmit pathogens to us. Did you know ticks can travel thousands of miles on birds? That’s one of the reasons keeping track of them from year to year can be very challenging. Janet also explains why it’s difficult to know the true number of Lyme cases in Canada. 

Janet notes that ticks can live in our own backyard, and gives us some landscaping advice to discourage ticks from our outdoor spaces. Finally, Janet fills us in on some of the important research happening in Canada right now regarding ticks and Lyme disease. Thank you Janet for helping us stay informed so that we can stay safe in the outdoors!

Janet Sperling Bio

Funding available for physicians to attend ILADS Conference

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In this episode, Justin Wood takes us deep into the world of ticks. We will find out what makes ticks tick, including their feeding patterns and life stages. We learn about the different kinds of ticks found in Canada, as well as valuable information about how to identify ticks and know which ones can transmit pathogens to humans. 

Did you know that many people don’t feel anything when a tick bites? Justin fills us in about how ticks are able to attach and feed undetected, even after several days! We learn about some of the pathogens that ticks carry, including one carried by the Lonestar tick that can cause an allergy to red meat! We also explore the effect of climate change on tick populations in Canada. 

So tuck your pants into your socks and dive into this fascinating podcast about ticks. The more we know about these tiny arachnids, the more prepared we are to stay safe in the outdoors!

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About Justin Wood

Funding for physicians to attend ILADS

In this episode, we meet host Sarah Cormode and explore Lyme disease through the perspective of a Canadian family physician during her interview with Dr. Liz Zubek.  

Sarah draws upon her expertise in education, research and outdoor adventure to explore all things Lyme. She reflects back on her own experience with Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick in her backyard in 2012, then ventures out to speak with a wide variety of experts to better understand this disease. Guided by her own experience with Lyme disease, Sarah reveals a distinctly Canadian perspective of Lyme disease.

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About Dr. Liz Zubek