Detection of , , sp., Sensu Lato, and in Ticks Collected in Eastern Canada.

Tick-borne pathogens cause infectious diseases that inflict much societal and financial hardship worldwide. Blacklegged ticks, , are primary vectors of several epizootic and zoonotic pathogens. The aim was to find varius pathogens of and to determine their prevalence. In Ontario and Quebec, 113 ticks were collected from songbirds, mammals, including humans, and by flagging. PCR and DNA sequencing detected five different microorganisms: , 1 (0.9%); , 17 (15.3%); -like sp., 1 (0.9%); sensu lato (Bbsl), 29 (26.1%); and , 1 (0.9%). Five coinfections of Bbsl and occurred. Notably, was documented for the first time in Canada and, at the same time, demonstrates the first transstadial passage of in Transstadial passage of Bbsl and was also witnessed. A novel undescribed piroplasm (-like) was detected. An established population of ticks was detected at Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. Because songbirds widely disperse larvae and nymphs, exposure in an endemic area is not required to contract tick-borne zoonoses. Based on the diversity of zoonotic pathogens in ticks, clinicians need to be aware that people who are bitten by ticks may require select antimicrobial regimens.