Search

Objectives: International infectious disease/obstetrical societies have recently recommended universal hepatitis C virus (HCV) prenatal screening and these same recommendations are forthcoming in Canada. At present, there is no formal analysis of universal HCV screening or linkage to care of pregnant people in Ontario. The objectives of our study were to determine the seroprevalence of HCV using 2 different methods to evaluate universal screening, as well as identify opportunities that may improve linkage to care., Methods: To assess seroprevalence in a large urban area, we aimed to test 12 000 de-identified samples submitted for prenatal HIV testing in the catchment area of Toronto Public Health for HCV antibodies. Then, to assess the seroprevalence as well as the operational impact and follow-up in a real-world setting, we completed a Quality Improvement Project (QIP) for 1 year at a large tertiary care obstetrical centre in London, Ontario., Results: From 2019 to 2021, 11 999 de-identified samples were screened from Toronto with a seroprevalence of 0.40 (95% CI 0.29-0.53). In London, 5771 people were screened in 2021 with a seroprevalence of 0.55% (95% CI 0.38-0.78). Taken together, those aged 26-35 years had the highest positivity; in the QIP, 9% had no documented risk factor, and 59% of individuals were not linked to the next step in HCV care., Conclusions: HCV prenatal seroprevalence in Ontario is comparable to hepatitis B virus, and ∼15-30-fold higher than HIV. Diagnosis in pregnancy is critical to facilitate referrals for treatment between pregnancies and could increase screening among children born to positive women., (Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: We present a protocol to efficiently sequence genomes of the MPXV-causing mpox. This enables researchers and public health agencies to acquire high-quality genomic data using a rapid and cost-effective approach. Genomic data can be used to conduct surveillance and investigate mpox outbreaks. We present 91 mpox genomes that show the diversity of the 2022 mpox outbreak in Ontario, Canada., Competing Interests: J.B.G. was a paid consultant scientific editor for GIDEON Informatics, Inc., which was unrelated to the current work.

Azithromycin (AZM) resistance among Shigella is a major public health concern. Here, we investigated the epidemiology of Shigella flexneri serotype 1b recovered during 2016-2018 in Ontario, to describe the prevalence and spread of AZM resistance. We found that 72.3% (47/65) of cases were AZM-resistant (AZM R ), of which 95.7% (45/47) were among males (P < 0.001). Whole-genome based phylogenetic analysis showed three major clusters, and 56.9% of isolates grouped within a single closely-related cluster (0-10 ∆SNP). A single AZM R clonal population was persistent over 3 years and involved 67.9% (36/53) of all male cases, and none reported international travel. In 2018, a different AZM R cluster appeared among adult males not reporting travel. A proportion of isolates (10.7%) with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (CIP) due to S83L mutation in gyrA were AZM susceptible, and 71.4% reported international travel. Resistance to AZM was due to the acquisition of mph gene-bearing incFII plasmids having > 95% nucleotide similarity to pKSR100. Plasmid-borne resistance limiting treatment options to AZM, ceftriaxone (CRO) and CIP was noted in a single isolate. We characterized AZM R isolates circulating locally among males and found that genomic analysis can support targeted prevention and mitigation strategies against antimicrobial-resistance., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

The epidemiology and treatment of typhoid fever are complicated by the emergence and spread of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi lineages with resistance to many antimicrobial agents critical for therapy. Current information on the susceptibility patterns of S. Typhi isolates identified in regions where typhoid fever is not endemic is important as these are often acquired after traveling to countries of endemicity where resistant strains circulate. Here, we report a 10-year retrospective survey of S. Typhi antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among 858 unique patient isolates that underwent reference laboratory testing in Ontario, Canada, between 2010 and 2019. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns remained stable for ampicillin (average, 78.7% susceptible), azithromycin (average, 99.4% susceptible) ertapenem (average, 100.0% susceptible), meropenem (average, 100.0% susceptible), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (average, 78.2% susceptible) during the study period; however, nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone increased. While ceftriaxone-resistant isolates comprised 1.6% of the total isolates overall, they represented 10.1% of the total isolates tested in 2019, indicating a significant increase over time. Our findings suggest that when selecting empirical therapy, health care providers should strongly consider current trends in antimicrobial susceptibility and investigate the patient's exposure risk to gauge whether a suspected typhoid infection may be caused by a potentially resistant S. Typhi strain. IMPORTANCE This work provides an updated summary of the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among Salmonella Typhi strains isolated from patients in Ontario, Canada.

A global monkeypox outbreak began in May 2022. Limited data exist on specimen type performance in associated molecular diagnostics. Consequently, a diverse range of specimen sources were collected in the initial weeks of the outbreak in Ontario, Canada. Our clinical evaluation identified skin lesions as the optimal diagnostic specimen source.

The American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, is a tick of public and veterinary health importance in North America. Using passive tick surveillance data, we document distribution changes for the American dog tick in Ontario, Canada, from 2010 through 2018. Dermacentor variabilis submissions from the public were geocoded and aggregated-from large to small administrative geographies-by health region, public health unit (PHU) and Forward Sortation Area (FSA). PHU hot spots with high rates of D. variabilis submissions were (1) Brant County, Haldimand-Norfolk and Niagara Regional in the Central West region and (2) Lambton and Winsor-Essex County in the South West region. The number of established D. variabilis populations with ≥ 6 submissions per year increased significantly during the study at regional (PHUs: 22 to 31) and local (FSAs: 27 to 91) scales. The range of D. variabilis increased similarly to the positive control (Ixodes scapularis) during the study and in contrast to the static range of the negative control (Ixodes cookei). Submission hot spots were in warmer, low elevation areas with poorly drained soils, compared to the province's low submission areas. Dermacentor variabilis is spreading in Ontario and continued research into their vector ecology is required to assess medicoveterinary health risks., (© 2022. Crown.)

The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted routine healthcare services. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are often asymptomatic, and therefore, screening and on/post-treatment monitoring are required. Our aim was to determine the effect of the first, second and third waves of the pandemic on HBV and HCV testing in Ontario, Canada. We extracted data from Public Health Ontario for HBV and HCV specimens from 1 January 2019 to 31 May 2021. Testing volumes were evaluated and stratified by age, sex and region. Changes in testing volumes were analysed by per cent and absolute change. Testing volumes decreased in April 2020 with the first wave of the pandemic and recovered to 72%-75% of prepandemic volumes by the end of the first wave. HBsAg testing decreased by 33%, 18% and 15%, and HBV DNA testing decreased by 37%, 27% and 20%, in each consecutive wave. Anti-HCV testing decreased by 35%, 21% and 19%, and HCV RNA testing decreased by 44%, 30% and 36% in each consecutive wave. These trends were consistent by age, region and sex. Prenatal HBV testing volumes were stable. In conclusion, significant decreases in HBV and HCV testing occurred during the first three waves of the pandemic and have not recovered. In addition to direct consequences on viral hepatitis elimination efforts, these data provide insight into the impacts of the pandemic on chronic disease screening and management. Strategies to make up for missed testing will be critical to avoid additional consequences of COVID-19 long after the pandemic has resolved., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The N501Y amino acid mutation caused by a single point substitution A23063T in the spike gene of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is possessed by three variants of concern (VOCs), B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1. A rapid screening tool using this mutation is important for surveillance during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We developed and validated a single nucleotide polymorphism real-time reverse transcription PCR assay using allelic discrimination of the spike gene N501Y mutation to screen for potential variants of concern and differentiate them from SARS-CoV-2 lineages without the N501Y mutation. A total of 160 clinical specimens positive for SARS-CoV-2 were characterized as mutant (N501Y) or N501 wild type by Sanger sequencing and were subsequently tested with the N501Y single nucleotide polymorphism real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay. Our assay, compared to Sanger sequencing for single nucleotide polymorphism detection, demonstrated positive percent agreement of 100% for all 57 specimens displaying the N501Y mutation, which were confirmed by Sanger sequencing to be typed as A23063T, including one specimen with mixed signal for wild type and mutant. Negative percent agreement was 100% in all 103 specimens typed as N501 wild type, with A23063 identified as wild type by Sanger sequencing. The identification of circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages carrying an N501Y mutation is critical for surveillance purposes. Current identification methods rely primarily on Sanger sequencing or whole-genome sequencing, which are time consuming, labor intensive, and costly. The assay described herein is an efficient tool for high-volume specimen screening for SARS-CoV-2 VOCs and for selecting specimens for confirmatory Sanger or whole-genome sequencing. IMPORTANCE During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several variants of concern (VOCs) have been detected, for example, B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, and B.1.617.2. The VOCs pose a threat to public health efforts to control the spread of the virus. As such, surveillance and monitoring of these VOCs is of the utmost importance. Our real-time RT-PCR assay helps with surveillance by providing an easy method to quickly survey SARS-CoV-2 specimens for VOCs carrying the N501Y single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Samples that test positive for the N501Y mutation in the spike gene with our assay can be sequenced to identify the lineage. Thus, our assay helps to focus surveillance efforts and decrease turnaround times.

BackgroundSerosurveys for SARS-CoV-2 aim to estimate the proportion of the population that has been infected.AimThis observational study assesses the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Ontario, Canada during the first pandemic wave.MethodsUsing an orthogonal approach, we tested 8,902 residual specimens from the Public Health Ontario laboratory over three time periods during March-June 2020 and stratified results by age group, sex and region. We adjusted for antibody test sensitivity/specificity and compared with reported PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases.ResultsAdjusted seroprevalence was 0.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1-1.5) from 27 March-30 April, 1.5% (95% CI: 0.7-2.2) from 26-31 May, and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.8-1.3) from 5-30 June 2020. Adjusted estimates were highest in individuals aged ≥ 60 years in March-April (1.3%; 95% CI: 0.2-4.6), in those aged 20-59 years in May (2.1%; 95% CI: 0.8-3.4) and in those aged ≥ 60 years in June (1.6%; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1). Regional seroprevalence varied, and was highest for Toronto in March-April (0.9%; 95% CI: 0.1-3.1), for Toronto in May (3.2%; 95% CI: 1.0-5.3) and for Toronto (1.5%; 95% CI: 0.9-2.1) and Central East in June (1.5%; 95% CI: 1.0-2.0). We estimate that COVID-19 cases detected by PCR in Ontario underestimated SARS-CoV-2 infections by a factor of 4.9.ConclusionsOur results indicate low population seroprevalence in Ontario, suggesting that public health measures were effective at limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during the first pandemic wave.

Haemophilus influenzae can cause serious invasive disease. We report the epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive H. influenzae in Ontario, Canada, from 2014 to 2018 from laboratory-based data. Blood was the most common specimen source (89.5%). Consistent with widespread vaccination against serotype b (Hib), the incidence of Hib in Ontario remained low (0.04 cases per 100,000 population). H. influenzae disease primarily afflicted those <1 and ≥65 years of age. From 2014 to 2018, cases of invasive H. influenzae increased 5.6%, from 1.67 to 2.06 cases per 100,000 population, the majority of which were attributed to a 7.6% increase in the incidence of H. influenzae in those ≥65 years old. H. influenzae disease was primarily caused by nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) (74.2%) and, to a much lesser extent, serotype a (Hia) (8.9%) and serotype f (Hif) (10.2%). Serotype-dependent trends in antimicrobial susceptibility were observed. Hia and Hif isolates were predominantly susceptible to all antibiotics tested, while 27.2% of NTHi isolates were nonsusceptible to ampicillin. Resistance to ceftriaxone and meropenem, first-line antibiotics for invasive disease treatment, was nonexistent. The incidence of invasive H. influenzae in Ontario is increasing. The incidence and antimicrobial susceptibility of all serotypes and nontypeable H. influenzae should be monitored. IMPORTANCE H. influenzae can cause serious invasive, life-threatening disease and is considered 1 of 12 priority pathogens by the World Health Organization. Widespread vaccination against H. influenzae serotype b (Hib) has resulted in very low incidence of Hib in Ontario and other regions that have vaccination programs. However, the epidemiology of non-Hib serotypes and nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) remains poorly understood. Here, we describe the epidemiology of all invasive H. influenzae isolates (N = 1,338) received by our laboratory over the 5-year period and report on the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns by serotype. Overall, we observed an increase in the incidence of invasive disease over the study period, primarily driven by NTHi. Serotype-dependent trends in antimicrobial susceptibility were also observed. This work contributes to the global understanding of H. influenzae epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance and is additionally important for further vaccine planning initiatives.

Accurate SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis is essential to guide prevention and control of COVID-19. Here we examine SARS-CoV-2 molecular-based test performance characteristics and summarize case-level data related to COVID-19 diagnosis. From January 11 through April 22, 2020, Public Health Ontario conducted SARS-CoV-2 testing of 86,942 specimens collected from 80,354 individuals, primarily using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) methods. We analyzed test results across specimen types and for individuals with multiple same-day and multi-day collected specimens. Nasopharyngeal compared to throat swabs had a higher positivity (8.8% vs. 4.8%) and an adjusted estimate 2.9 Ct lower (SE = 0.5, p<0.001). Same-day specimens showed high concordance (98.8%), and the median Ct of multi-day specimens increased over time. Symptomatic cases had rRT-PCR results with an adjusted estimate 3.0 Ct (SE = 0.5, p<0.001) lower than asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic cases. Overall test sensitivity was 84.6%, with a negative predictive value of 95.5%. Molecular testing is the mainstay of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and testing protocols will continue to be dynamic and iteratively modified as more is learned about this emerging pathogen., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: The universal nature of the human-companion animal relationship and their shared ticks and tick-borne pathogens offers an opportunity for improving public and veterinary health surveillance. With this in mind, we describe the spatiotemporal trends for blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) submissions from humans and companion animals in Ontario, along with pathogen prevalence., Methods: We tested tick samples submitted through passive surveillance (2011-2017) from humans and companion animals for Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti. We describe pathogen prevalence in ticks from humans and from companion animals and constructed univariable Poisson and negative binomial regression models to explore the spatiotemporal relationship between the rates of tick submissions by host type., Results: During the study, there were 17,230 blacklegged tick samples submitted from humans and 4375 from companion animals. Tick submission rates from companion animals were higher than expected in several public health units (PHUs) lacking established tick populations, potentially indicating newly emerging populations. Pathogen prevalence in ticks was higher in PHUs where established blacklegged tick populations exist. Borrelia burgdorferi prevalence was higher in ticks collected from humans (maximum likelihood estimate, MLE = 17.5%; 95% confidence interval, CI 16.97-18.09%) than from companion animals (9.9%, 95% CI 9.15-10.78%). There was no difference in pathogen prevalence in ticks by host type for the remaining pathogens, which were found in less than 1% of tested ticks. The most common co-infection B. burgdorferi + B. miyamotoi occurred in 0.11% of blacklegged ticks from humans and animals combined. Borrelia burgdorferi prevalence was higher in unengorged (21.9%, 95% CI 21.12-22.65%) than engorged ticks (10.0%, 95% CI 9.45-10.56%). There were no consistent and significant spatiotemporal relationships detected via regression models between the annual rates of submission of each host type., Conclusions: While B. burgdorferi has been present in blacklegged ticks in Ontario for several decades, other tick-borne pathogens are also present at low prevalence. Blacklegged tick and pathogen surveillance data can be used to monitor risk in human and companion animal populations, and efforts are under consideration to unite surveillance efforts for the different target populations.

Background: Ontario is 1 of 5 provinces that immunize adolescents for hepatitis B virus (HBV), despite the World Health Organization recommendation for universal birth dose vaccination. One rationale for not vaccinating at birth is that universal prenatal screening and related interventions prevent vertical transmission. The aims of our study were to evaluate the uptake and epidemiology of prenatal HBV screening, and to determine the number of children in Ontario with a diagnosis of HBV before adolescent vaccination., Methods: We extracted data from ICES, Public Health Ontario and Better Outcomes & Registry Network (BORN) Ontario databases. We assessed prenatal screening uptake and prevalence of prenatal hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from 2012 to 2016, as well as subsequent hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and HBV DNA testing and percent positivity. We used age and region to subcategorize the results. In a separate unlinked analysis, we evaluated the number of children positive for HBV aged 0-11 years who were born in Ontario from 2003 to 2013., Results: From 2012 to 2016, 93% of pregnant women were screened for HBV, with an HBsAg prevalence of 0.6%. Prevalence of HBsAg increased with age, peaking at older than 45 years at 3%. North Toronto had the highest overall prevalence of 1.5%, whereas northern Ontario had the lowest. Of women who were HBsAg positive, HBeAg and HBV DNA tests were subsequently ordered in 13% and 38%, respectively. Of children born in Ontario between 2003 and 2013, 139 of 23 759 tested positive for HBV., Interpretation: Prenatal HBV screening is not universal and subsequent evaluation is poor, limiting optimal intervention and possibly contributing to some Ontario-born children being given a diagnosis of HBV before age 12 years. These findings underscore the limitations of the province's adolescent vaccination strategy., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Tony Mazzulli reports serving as a speaker, consultant or advisory board member for Merck, Pfizer, Qvella, Microbix, Roche, Verity Pharmaceuticals and Cipher Pharmaceuticals, and receiving research funding from Qvella and bioMérieux. Harry Janssen reports serving as a speaker, consultant or advisory board member for AbbVie, Arbutus, Benitec, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Glaxo, Janssen, Medimmune, Merck, Roche and Vir Biotechnology, and receiving research funding from AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Medimmune, Merck and Roche. Jordan Feld reports receiving research support or consulting fees from Abbott, AbbVie, Enanta, Gilead, Janssen, Roche, Arbutus and GlaxoSmithKline. No other competing interests were declared., (© 2020 Joule Inc. or its licensors.)

To understand the epidemiology and susceptibility patterns of yeast infections in Ontario, Canada, we examined 4,715 clinical yeast isolates submitted to our laboratory for antifungal susceptibility testing from 2014 to 2018. Candida albicans was the most frequently submitted species (43.0%), followed by C. glabrata (21.1%), C. parapsilosis (15.0%), and C. tropicalis (6.2%). Twenty-three other Candida spp. (11.6%) and 4 non- Candida species (3.1%) were also identified. Few changes in species distribution were observed from 2014 to 2018, but the total numbers of yeast isolates sent for testing increased, with an annual 7.4% change. According to CLSI clinical breakpoints, resistance rates remained low overall. Moderate fluconazole resistance was noted among C. glabrata (9%), C. parapsilosis (9%), and C. tropicalis (12%) isolates. Only 1% of C. glabrata isolates were resistant to caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin. Whole-genome sequence analysis confirmed 11 cases of acquired resistance to azoles or echinocandins via in-host evolution. There were mutations in the gene for the catalytic subunit of 1,3-beta-glucan synthase-mediated echinocandin resistance in 3 of 3 C. albicans strains, 3 of 4 C. glabrata strains, and 1 strain of C. tropicalis Azole resistance was likely caused by a homozygous ERG3 mutation in 1 C. albicans strain and a previously undescribed chromosomal-duplication event involving ERG11 and TAC1 orthologs in 1 C. tropicalis strain. While antifungal resistance rates remain low among yeast isolates in Ontario, ongoing surveillance is necessary to inform empirical therapy for optimal patient management and to guide antifungal stewardship., (© Crown copyright 2020.)

Background: Assessing the burden of rickettsial infections in Ontario, Canada, is challenging since rickettsial infections are not reportable to public health. In the absence of reportable disease data, we assessed the burden of rickettsial infections by examining patient serological data and clinical information., Methods: Our retrospective, cross-sectional study included patients who had Rickettsia serological testing ordered by their physician, in Ontario, from 2013 to 2018. We tested sera from 2755 non-travel patients for antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) and typhus group rickettsiae (TGR) using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) (positive IgG titers ≥1:64). We classified cases using a sensitive surveillance case definition: confirmed (4-fold increase in IgG titers between acute and convalescent sera with clinical evidence of infection), possible (single positive sera with clinical evidence) and previous rickettsial infection (single positive sera without clinical evidence). We classified cases seropositive for both SFGR and TGR as unspecified Rickettsia infections (URIs)., Results: Less than 5% of all patients had paired acute and convalescent sera tested, and of these, we found a single, laboratory-confirmed SFGR case, with a 4-fold increase in IgG titers and evidence of fever, maculopapular rash and headache. There were 45 possible (19 SFGR, 7 TGR, 19 URI) and 580 previous rickettsial infection (183 SFGR, 89 TGR, 308 URI) cases. The rate of positive tests for SFGR, TGR and URI combined (all case classifications) were 4.4 per 100,000 population. For confirmed and possible cases, the most common signs and symptoms were fever, headache, gastrointestinal complaints and maculopapular rash. The odds of having seropositive patients increased annually by 30% (odds ratio = 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-1.39)., Conclusions: The rates of rickettsial infections in Ontario are difficult to determine. Based on confirmed and possible cases, rates are low, but inclusion of previous rickettsial infection cases would indicate higher rates. We highlight the need for education regarding the importance of testing acute and convalescent sera and consistent completion of the laboratory requisition in confirming rickettsial disease. We suggest further research in Ontario to investigate rickettsial agents in potential vectors and clinical studies employing PCR testing of clinical samples.

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), caused by the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum , is transmitted to humans by blacklegged ticks ( Ixodes scapularis ) in eastern North America. To assess the emergence of A . phagocytophilum in Ontario, we analyzed patient serological and clinical data in combination with pathogen detection in blacklegged ticks from 2011 to 2017. Our sample population included all patients who had Anaplasma serological testing ordered by their physicians ( n = 851). Eighty-three patients (10.8%) were A . phagocytophilum seropositive (IgG titers ≥ 1:64) and 686 (89.2%) were seronegative (IgG titers < 1:64). Applying published surveillance case definitions, we classified zero as confirmed, five as probable, and 78 as suspected cases. The percentage of seropositive patients remained generally stable at 13.6%. Seropositive patients were most often adult females, 40-59 years of age, and reported nonspecific signs and symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, and fever. Higher seropositivity rates (≥ 1.5 patients per 100,000 population) occurred in eastern and northwestern Ontario. The percentage of A . phagocytophilum -positive blacklegged ticks, through passive and active surveillance, was 0.4 and 1.1%, respectively, and increased over time. Serological and entomological indicators of A . phagocytophilum activity increased in areas of the province with established blacklegged tick populations. The risk of HGA is presently low in Ontario; however, further research is required to document the epidemiology of HGA in the province. To minimize the impact of HGA emergence in Ontario, increased awareness and education of the public and health-care providers is recommended, with consideration to making HGA a reportable infection in Ontario.

This study examined the evolving nature of Bordetella pertussis in Ontario, Canada, by characterizing isolates for their genotypes and expression of pertactin (PRN). From 2009 to 2017, 413 B. pertussis were cultured from pertussis cases at the Public Health Ontario Laboratory. Their genotypes were determined by partial gene sequence analysis of their virulence and (or) vaccine antigens: filamentous haemagglutinin, PRN, fimbriae 3, and pertussis toxin, including the promoter region. Expression of PRN was measured by Western immunoblot. Two predominant genotypes, ST-1 and ST-2, were found throughout the study and were responsible for 47.5% and 46.3% of all case isolates, respectively. The prevalence of ST-1 appeared to fluctuate from 80.3% in 2009 to 20.0% in 2014 and 58.5% in 2017, while the prevalence of ST-2 changed from 18.4% in 2009 to 80.0% in 2014 and 26.2% in 2017. A PRN-deficient strain was first noted in 2011 (16.7%), and its prevalence increased to 70.8% in 2016 but decreased to 46.2% in 2017. More ST-2 (46.6%) than ST-1 (16.8%) strains were associated with PRN deficiency. Newer ST-21 and ST-22 found in 2015-2017 were uniformly PRN deficient. The impact of the evolving nature of B. pertussis on disease epidemiology requires further longitudinal studies.

Objectives: Compare the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) between two large Canadian provinces-Ontario and British Columbia (BC)-to identify genotypic clusters within and across both provinces, allowing for an improved understanding of genotype data and providing context to more accurately identify clusters representing local transmission., Design: We compared 24-locus Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units-Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (MIRU-VNTR) genotyping for 3,314 Ontario and 1,602 BC clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates collected from 2008 through 2014. Laboratory data for each isolate was linked to case-level records to obtain clinical and demographic data., Results: The demographic characteristics of persons with TB varied between provinces, most notably in the proportion of persons born outside Canada, which was reflected in the large number of unique genotypes (n = 3,461). The proportion of clustered isolates was significantly higher in BC. Substantial clustering amongst non-Lineage 4 TB strains was observed within and across the provinces. Only two large clusters (≥10 cases/cluster) representing within province transmission had interprovincial genotype matches., Conclusion: We recommend expanding analysis of shared genotypes to include neighbouring jurisdictions, and implementing whole genome sequencing to improve identification of TB transmission, recognize outbreaks, and monitor changing trends in TB epidemiology., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is spreading northward from its historical stronghold in the southeastern United States. As a vector and biting pest, public and veterinary health officials must remain vigilant of the lone star tick's expanding range. We use ticks submitted to Public Health Ontario Laboratory (1999-2016) to describe the spatial and temporal dynamics of A. americanum in Ontario, Canada, as well as submitter demographics. We identified 847 A. americanum submissions during the surveillance period, with 773 (91.3%) non-travel-related and 74 (8.7%) travel-related submissions. Annual A. americanum submissions increased over the surveillance period. Approximately 91% of non-travel-related submissions were adult ticks and 9% were nymphs. The highest submission rates were from individuals living in the Eastern and South West regions of the province. Adult specimens were primarily submitted from May through July and nymphs from March through September. Higher numbers of submissions were from young children (<10 years) and older adults (55-74 years), with equal proportions of male and female submitters. The majority of travel-related submissions were from travellers returning from the southeastern United States (i.e., Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas). Amblyomma americanum distribution is scattered in Ontario and submissions are likely the consequence of ongoing detection of adventive specimens. Further tick dragging is required to confirm the presence of established lone star tick populations in the province. Given the relatively rapid expansion of blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, populations in Ontario, we expect climate change to facilitate the range of expansion of A. americanum into the province. We propose an algorithm for identifying A. americanum-risk areas, which will aid public and veterinary health officials when assessing the risks posed by lone star ticks., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)