Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Where and when pets in Canada get Ixodes ticks and risk factors
By DeWinter, Sydney et al.·Published in Ticks and tick-borne diseases·2023·Department of Population Medicine, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Assessing the spatial and temporal patterns and risk factors for acquisition of Ixodes spp. by companion animals across Canada.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that many dogs and cats in Canada are at risk of getting ticks, particularly the Ixodes scapularis species, which can carry diseases. The research showed that certain breeds of dogs, especially herding and mixed breeds, as well as spayed female cats, were more likely to get these ticks. Ticks were collected from veterinary clinics over a year, revealing that these ticks are common in central and eastern Canada. Understanding where and when these ticks are most active can help pet owners take preventive measures to protect their animals.
People also search for: dog tick prevention Canada · cat tick bites symptoms · Ixodes scapularis risk factors for dogs
Abstract
Climatic and land use changes have contributed to substantial changes in the abundance, distribution, and activity patterns of ticks in Canada, which have led to an increased risk of tick bites and tick-borne pathogen exposure for companion animals. The objectives of this study were to describe current spatial and temporal patterns of Ixodes spp. on companion animals in Canada and explore the association between tick bites and dog and cat demographic factors. Ticks were collected for one year (April 2019 - March 2020) from 94 veterinary clinics. Included with each submission was a short questionnaire containing owner-reported information on travel history, date of removal and suspected location of tick acquisition, and animal-specific demographic factors. Ticks were identified morphologically using a stereomicroscope, standard keys, and through PCR analyses. Mixed effect multivariable logistic regression models were built to explore the association between an Ixodes scapularis bite and animal demographic factors; veterinary clinic was included as a random effect. Approximately 2300 submissions were received from clinics across Canada, totalling 4425 ticks. The most common Ixodes spp. was I. scapularis (n = 2168), followed by Ixodes pacificus (n = 172) and Ixodes cookei (n = 155). Ixodes scapularis were well distributed in regions across central and eastern Canada. Ixodes cookei was found in eastern Canada, with the greatest numbers from Quebec and New Brunswick. Ixodes pacificus submissions were restricted to British Columbia. Across eastern Canada, dogs of the herding, mixed breed (large and small), sporting, working, terrier, and toy breed groups, and spayed cats were all found to have higher odds of acquiring I. scapularis, compared to other tick species. For the dog model, significant interactions were found between predictor variables age and sex. Regional information on tick distribution, seasonality, and risk factors for acquisition contribute to evidence-based veterinary practices for tick and tick-borne disease control in Canada.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36423538/