Antonia Dibernardo | University of Windsor (original) (raw)

Papers by Antonia Dibernardo

Relevé des maladies transmissibles au Canada, Jun 28, 2023

Canada communicable disease report, Apr 4, 2019

Climate warming and other environmental changes have contributed to the expansion of the range of... more Climate warming and other environmental changes have contributed to the expansion of the range of several tick species into higher latitudes in North America. As temperatures increase in Canada, the environment becomes more suitable for ticks and the season suitable for tick activity lengthens, so tick-borne diseases are likely to become more common in Canada. In addition to Lyme disease, four other tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have started to emerge and are likely to increase: Anaplasmosis; Babesiosis; Powassan virus; and Borrelia miyamotoi disease. Increased temperature increases the survival and activity period of ticks, increases the range of both reservoir and tick hosts (e.g. mice and deer) and increases the duration of the season when people may be exposed to ticks. Other ticks and TBDs may spread into Canada as the climate changes. The public health strategies to mitigate the impact of all TBDs include surveillance to detect current and emerging TBDs, and public health actions to prevent infections by modifying environmental and social-behavioral risk factors through increasing public awareness. Clinical care strategies include patient education, early detection, laboratory testing, and treatment.

Relevé des maladies transmissibles au Canada, Oct 4, 2018

Contexte : Au cours des dernières années, l'incidence de la maladie de Lyme a augmenté dans plusi... more Contexte : Au cours des dernières années, l'incidence de la maladie de Lyme a augmenté dans plusieurs régions au Canada, y compris à Ottawa (Ontario). Jusqu'à maintenant, la surveillance active des tiques était limitée dans cette région. Objectifs : Estimer la distribution géographique et la densité des tiques Ixodes scapularis dans la ville d'Ottawa ainsi que les taux d'infection des tiques à la bactérie Borrelia burgdorferi (qui cause la maladie de Lyme) et à d'autres pathogènes transmis par les tiques. Méthodes : Entre les mois de juin et d'octobre 2017, on a procédé à la surveillance des tiques au moyen d'échantillonnage par filet traînant sur 23 sites situés dans les parcs municipaux, les sentiers récréatifs et les boisés de la ville d'Ottawa. Les tiques à pattes noires ont subi un test de dépistage des bactéries B. burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi et Anaplasma phagocytophilum à l'aide de protocoles d'amplification en chaîne de la polymérase quantitative (quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction [qPCR]). Résultats : Des tiques I. scapularis ont été retrouvées sur 16 des 23 sites (70 %). Les sentiers récréatifs, les boisés et les zones de conservation de même que le parc provincial situés dans la ville d'Ottawa présentaient des densités de tiques significativement plus élevées que les parcs municipaux (p < 0,01). Des 194 spécimens adultes et des 26 nymphes de l'espèce I. scapularis examinés, la prévalence de l'infection à la bactérie B. burgdorferi était de 29,5 %, celle à la bactérie B. miyamotoi était de 0,45 % et celle à la bactérie A. phagocytophilum était de 0,91 %. Conclusion : Presque 30 % des tiques de l'espèce I. scapularis provenant des zones périurbaines et rurales de la ville d'Ottawa qui ont été dépistées étaient infectées par la bactérie B. burgdorferi, connue pour causer la maladie de Lyme. D'autres types d'infections, reconnues comme causant l'anaplasmose et la fièvre récurrente à tiques, ont aussi été détectées, bien que très rarement. Procéder à la surveillance active des tiques au niveau local peut contribuer à éclairer l'évaluation du risque et les mesures prises par la santé publique.

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2023

Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Jul 1, 2022

Epidemiology and Infection, May 2, 2018

Jamestown Canyon and snowshoe hare viruses are two emerging human pathogens associated with cases... more Jamestown Canyon and snowshoe hare viruses are two emerging human pathogens associated with cases of neuroinvasive disease in North America. This study aimed to identify environmental and individual risk factors for seropositivity to these arboviruses in humans and pet dogs from Québec, Canada, 2012-2014. In humans, areas with moderate densities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were associated with higher odds of seropositivity compared with areas with low densities of white-tailed deer (OR 2.50, P = 0.009) and odds of seropositivity were higher in males than in females (OR 2.03, P = 0.016). Among humans reporting more than 10 mosquito bites weekly, the odds of being seropositive were 4.44 times higher (P = 0.004) for people living in hardwood forested areas. Exposure to areas with coniferous forests was identified as the main environmental risk factor for seroconversion in dogs (OR 2.39, P = 0.04). These findings may help target further public health research, diagnostic and surveillance efforts in Canada.

Epidemiology and Infection, Sep 28, 2017

Periodic outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and to a le... more Periodic outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and to a lesser extent, California serogroup viruses (CSGV), have been reported in parts of Canada in the last decade. This study was designed to provide a broad assessment of arboviral activity in Quebec, Canada, by conducting serological surveys for these arboviruses in 196 horses, 1442 dogs and 485 humans. Sera were screened by a competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and positive samples confirmed by plaque reduction neutralisation tests. The percentage of seropositive samples was 83•7%, 16•5%, 7•1% in horses, 18•8%, 0•6%, 0% in humans, 11•7%, 3•1%, 0% in adult dogs and 2•9%, 0•3%, 0% in juvenile dogs for CSGV, WNV and EEEV, respectively. Serological results in horses and dogs appeared to provide a meaningful assessment of risk to public health posed by multiple arboviruses.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from wildlife origi... more The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from wildlife origins has raised concerns about spillover from humans to animals, the establishment of novel wildlife reservoirs, and the potential for future outbreaks caused by variants of wildlife origin. Norway rats ( Rattus norvegicus) are abundant in urban areas and live in close proximity to humans, providing the opportunity for spillover of SARS-CoV-2. To date, there is no evidence of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in rats and experimental studies suggest rats are likely not susceptible to ancestral SARS-CoV-2. However, as variants emerge, new species have been identified as competent hosts, as demonstrated by the susceptibility of rats to the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant of concern (VOC). We investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection and exposure in Norway rats from southern Ontario, Canada. From October 2019 to June 2021, 224 rats were submitted by collaborating pest control companies. The majority of samples w...

Emerging Infectious Diseases

A nnual temperatures in the circumpolar Arctic are rising at 2-3 times the global average, reduci... more A nnual temperatures in the circumpolar Arctic are rising at 2-3 times the global average, reducing ecologic barriers for arthropod reproduction and fueling shifts in insect diversity and distribution (1,2). The northward advancement of the tree line and a 50%-60% increase in Arctic precipitation over the past 20 years provide a favorable environment for arthropod emergence (3,4). Consequently, arboviruses are a growing wildlife and public health concern in the Arctic. Limited information exists on the diversity of arboviruses in Arctic ecosystems, and few studies have identified hosts in sylvatic transmission cycles. California serogroup (CSG) viruses are antigenically and genetically related emerging vectorborne pathogens of the genus Orthobunyavirus that are found throughout North America and are associated with febrile illness and cases of neuroinvasive disease in humans (5). Pathogenic strains include La Crosse, Jamestown Canyon (JCV), California encephalitis, snowshoe hare (SSHV), Chatanga, and Inkoo viruses (6). Both JCV and SSHV have been identified as causes of arbovirus-associated neurologic diseases in North America (7). CSG viruses are transmitted through mosquitoes (Aedes, Culiseta, and Anopheles spp.), maintained by transovarial vector transmission,

Canadian Journal of Public Health

Objective In 2021, a first outbreak of anaplasmosis occurred in animals and humans in southern Qu... more Objective In 2021, a first outbreak of anaplasmosis occurred in animals and humans in southern Québec, with 64% of confirmed human cases located in Bromont municipality. Ixodes scapularis ticks and Peromyscus mouse ear biopsies collected in Bromont from 2019 to 2021 were analyzed for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap) with the objective of determining whether an early environmental signal could have been detected before the outbreak. Methods Samples were collected for a concurrent study aiming to reduce Lyme disease risk. Between 2019 and 2021, up to 14 experimental sites were sampled for ticks and capture of small mammals took place on three sites in 2021. Samples were screened for Ap using multiplex real-time PCR, and genetic strains were identified using a single-nucleotide polymorphism assay. Results Analyses showed an increase of 5.7% in Ap prevalence in ticks (CI95: 1.5–9.9) between 2019 and 2020, i.e., one year before the outbreak. A majority of Ap-positive ticks were infected wi...

Wildlife Society Bulletin

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) are ground‐dwelling forest birds found throughout New Brunswick, ... more Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) are ground‐dwelling forest birds found throughout New Brunswick, and likely act as an alternative host for blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), which are vectors for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Other Galliformes are parasitized by Ixodes spp. and some are competent reservoirs of tick‐borne pathogens. Thus, we sought to identify ruffed grouse as an alternative host of blacklegged ticks by testing for active and previous infections of tick‐borne pathogens. We tested 215 ruffed grouse hearts for active infection of B. burgdorferi and tested 20 blood samples for antibodies associated with previous B. burgdorferi infections. We failed to detect active, or evidence of previous, B. burgdorferi infections in either sample type. We suggest that our results were limited by the methods of pathogen testing and thus, alternative methods should be investigated.

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

CMAJ Open

artonella are gram-negative intra-erythrocytic bacilli. 1,2 This genus of bacteria evades identif... more artonella are gram-negative intra-erythrocytic bacilli. 1,2 This genus of bacteria evades identification by routine culture owing to its slow replication time and niche within erythrocytes. 3,4 Although more than 45 Bartonella species and subspecies infect various mammals, human disease due to Bartonella in North America is caused primarily by 2 species: B. henselae (cat scratch disease) and B. quintana (trench fever). 2,5 Cat scratch disease usually occurs after a feline scratch or bite. 6,7 Its most common clinical manifestation is regional lymphadenopathy. 7 Bartonella quintana is transmitted in the feces of body lice, entering the systemic circulation via abrasions in the skin. 8-10 Body lice live on clothing and bedding (Figure 1, Figure 2) and feed intermittently on the human host. 8,10,11 Clinical disease due to B. quintana was first described in 1915 among World War I soldiers and was thus coined "trench fever." 12 Although B. quintana was historically associated with a relapsing febrile illness, chronic bacteremia with B. quintana may be associated with few to no symptoms. 12,13 Infection with B. quintana has since emerged among urban populations experiencing houselessness owing to infestations with body lice. 8,9,14-17 Both B. henselae and B. quintana may cause endovascular infections such as infective endocarditis and mycotic aneurysms. 18,19 Although patients with uncontrolled HIV infection may develop other manifestations of bartonellosis, such as bacillary angiomatosis and peliosis hepatis, most cases of Bartonella infection are not associated with HIV. 20

Zoonoses and Public Health, 2022

Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) inhabit cities worldwide and live in close association with human... more Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) inhabit cities worldwide and live in close association with humans. Studies of urban rat zoonoses often rely on live-trapping, with fewer studies using rats sourced through lethal pest control interventions. Our objectives were to evaluate the utility of rats collected by pest control professionals for zoonotic pathogen surveillance and determine whether we could detect Leptospira interrogans and Streptobacillus moniliformis in pest control sourced rats. Rat carcasses were submitted from Windsor, Canada by pest control professionals between November 2018 and March 2020. Submissions were categorized by season and land use. Necropsies were performed to classify carcass quality, collect tissue samples, and record demographic data. The association between carcass quality and the ability to collect tissue samples for pathogen surveillance was assessed via an exact logistic regression model. Using PCR, a subset of kidney and spleen samples were tested for L. interrogans and S. moniliformis, respectively. Our sample of pest control sourced rats had similar sex and age distributions to those of live-trapping studies. Rats were primarily submitted from residential and industrial locations during fall, winter, and spring, which may reflect pest control service areas and peak business periods, rather than rat distribution. Of 124 submissions, 98 (79.0%) of rats showed only mild decomposition. The odds of collecting all tissue samples were reduced for fair compared to good-quality carcasses (OR: 0.029; 95% CI: 0-0.25; p = .0009) and for poor compared to fair-quality carcasses (OR: 0.048; 95% CI: 0.00085-0.53; p = .0065). Leptospira interrogans and S. moniliformis were detected in 9.1% (4/44) and 27.3% (15/55) of a subset of rats tested, respectively. Our results suggest that pest control sourced rats are suitable for surveillance for multiple zoonotic pathogens in urban environments. This method of rat collection may provide preliminary information to guide more detailed ecological studies.

Background: Lyme disease is on the rise in Canada. It is a notifiable disease, and when infection... more Background: Lyme disease is on the rise in Canada. It is a notifiable disease, and when infection is disseminated, serological testing provides supplemental evidence to confirm a case. Objective: To describe the current diagnostic tests for Lyme disease, review the recommended approach to laboratory testing for Lyme disease and identify future research priorities for Lyme disease laboratory diagnostics in Canada. Methods: A review of the literature was carried out. We then summarized parameters to consider before Lyme disease testing is conducted, described the current best practice to use a two-tiered diagnostic algorithm for the laboratory confirmation of disseminated Lyme disease, and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of the supplemental tests for Lyme disease. Results: Diagnostic testing is indicated in people who have symptoms of disseminated disease and a history of exposure to vector ticks. To maximize sensitivity and specificity, a two-tiered serological approach is recommended, consisting of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) screening test followed by confirmation with Western blot (WB) testing. A number of other diagnostic tests are available; however, these are largely for research purposes. Conclusion: Two-tiered serology is currently the best approach available to assist doctors when they are making a diagnosis of disseminated Lyme disease. The Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency) will seek to improve on this approach through standardization of the Lyme disease diagnostics used across laboratories in Canada, evaluation of test performance characteristics of current and new diagnostic platforms and development of a process to secure robust serum panels to assist in the development and evaluation of new diagnostic tests for Lyme disease. Lyme disease has been a nationally notifiable disease since 2009 (7). The objective of this article is to describe the current diagnostic tests for Lyme disease, including a review of the recommended approaches to laboratory testing, and identify future research priorities for Lyme disease diagnostics in Canada. Methods An extensive review of peer-reviewed literature was carried out. We then summarized the key parameters to consider before Lyme disease testing is conducted, described the current best practice of a two-tiered serological algorithm for the laboratory confirmation of disseminated Lyme disease and explored the advantages

Relevé des maladies transmissibles au Canada, 2021

Le répertoire des tests de diagnostic disponibles du coronavirus du syndrome respiratoire aigu sé... more Le répertoire des tests de diagnostic disponibles du coronavirus du syndrome respiratoire aigu sévère 2 (SRAS-CoV-2) évolue rapidement. Bien que les tests sérologiques aient une capacité de diagnostic limitée concernant l’infection aiguë, leur rôle dans les études épidémiologiques et dans la prise de décision en santé publique ainsi que pour l’émission de recommandations est de plus en plus important. Compte tenu de la disponibilité mondiale de vaccins, les laboratoires cliniques sont de plus en plus sollicités pour assurer le dépistage des anticorps et l’interprétation des résultats pour les personnes vaccinées et non vaccinées. Nous présentons ici les données les plus récentes sur les délais de production des anticorps contre le SRAS-CoV-2, notamment la longévité des anticorps, ainsi que la production et la détection des anticorps neutralisants. En outre, nous formulons des conseils pratiques destinés aux laboratoires de microbiologie clinique afin que ces derniers vérifient les t...

Journal of Clinical Virology, 2021

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Relevé des maladies transmissibles au Canada, 2019

Le réchauffement climatique et d'autres changements environnementaux ont contribué à l'expansion ... more Le réchauffement climatique et d'autres changements environnementaux ont contribué à l'expansion de la région où sévissent plusieurs espèces de tiques dans les latitudes élevées d'Amérique du Nord. L'augmentation de la température au Canada crée un environnement plus favorable pour les tiques et prolonge la saison d'activité des tiques. Les maladies transmises par les tiques sont donc susceptibles de devenir plus répandues au pays. En plus de la maladie de Lyme, quatre autres maladies transmises par les tiques, à savoir l'anaplasmose, la babésiose, le virus de l'encéphalite de Powassan et la fièvre récurrente causée par Borrelia miyamotoi, ont commencé à se propager, et leur incidence est susceptible d'augmenter. La hausse de la température favorise la survie et prolonge la période d'activité des tiques, augmente l'étendue géographique des réservoirs et des hôtes pour les tiques (p. ex. les souris et les chevreuils) et allonge la durée de la saison d'exposition des humains aux tiques. D'autres tiques et maladies transmises par les tiques pourraient se propager au Canada au fur et à mesure que le climat change. Les stratégies de santé publique visant à atténuer l'impact de toutes les maladies transmises par les tiques comprennent la surveillance pour détecter les maladies transmises par les tiques actuelles et émergentes, et des mesures de santé publique visant à prévenir les infections en modifiant les facteurs de risque environnementaux et sociaux-comportementaux grâce à la sensibilisation du public. Les stratégies de soins cliniques comprennent la diffusion d'information auprès des patients, la détection précoce, les analyses de laboratoire et le traitement.

Relevé des maladies transmissibles au Canada, 2014

La maladie de Lyme est en expansion au Canada. C'est une maladie à déclaration obligatoire. Au st... more La maladie de Lyme est en expansion au Canada. C'est une maladie à déclaration obligatoire. Au stade disséminé de l'infection, les épreuves sérologiques apportent des preuves complémentaires à l'appui de la confirmation des cas. Objectif : Décrire les tests actuellement utilisés pour le diagnostic de la maladie de Lyme, passer en revue la démarche d'analyse recommandée pour les laboratoires et cerner les priorités futures de la recherche dans le domaine du diagnostic en laboratoire de la maladie de Lyme au Canada. Méthodes : Une recherche documentaire a été effectuée. Nous avons ensuite résumé les paramètres à prendre en compte avant d'effectuer les tests de dépistage de la maladie de Lyme, décrit la meilleure pratique actuelle qui consiste à utiliser un algorithme de diagnostic en deux temps pour la confirmation en laboratoire de la maladie au stade disséminé, et analysé les avantages et les inconvénients des tests complémentaires concernant la maladie. Résultats : Le recours à des tests diagnostiques est indiqué chez les patients présentant des symptômes du stade disséminé de la maladie et des antécédents d'exposition aux tiques vecteurs. Afin de maximiser la sensibilité et la spécificité des épreuves, le recours à un protocole d'essai en deux temps est recommandé. Il consiste à effectuer un premier test de dépistage par dosage immunoenzymatique (EIA) suivi d'un test de confirmation par transfert Western. Un certain nombre d'autres tests diagnostiques sont disponibles; toutefois, ils sont surtout destinés à des fins de recherche. Conclusion : L'analyse sérologique en deux temps est actuellement la meilleure démarche disponible pour faciliter la tâche des médecins lors de la pose d'un diagnostic de maladie de Lyme au stade disséminé. L'Agence de la santé publique du Canada (l'Agence) s'efforcera d'améliorer cette démarche par la normalisation des tests diagnostiques de la maladie de Lyme sur l'ensemble des laboratoires du pays, par l'évaluation des caractéristiques de performance des tests des plateformes de diagnostic actuelles et futures et par l'établissement d'un processus destiné à établir des panels sériques fiables afin d'aider à la mise au point et à l'évaluation de nouveaux tests diagnostiques pour la maladie de Lyme.

Canada Communicable Disease Report, 2019