Tick species and infection rates found on pets in British Columbia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to identify tick species and determine prevalence ofinfection in ticks obtained from companion animals in British Columbia. ANIMALS AND SAMPLES: Ticks were submitted by British Columbia veterinarians from client-owned companion animals over a 31-month period. PROCEDURE: Each tick was identified and PCR testing forundertaken on allspecies identified by the Zoonotic Diseases and Emerging Pathogens Section of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory (BCCDC PHL). RESULTS: Overall, 85% (= 300) of ticks submitted werespp., with the majority known to transmitFurthermore, 0.8% (95% confidence interval: 0.094 to 2.78%) of these ticks were PCR-positive for CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although thepositivity rate in this study was low, it remains important for veterinary professionals to inform pet owners that ticks are present and can pose a risk to pets and humans. In eastern North America,infection risk has increased rapidly, underscoring the importance of ongoing surveillance in British Columbia to understand current and future distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, especially in the context of climate change.