Introduction
Human and animal tick encounters are increasing across the United States
(Eisen and Eisen 2018, Divers et al. 2018), driven by the encroachment
of endemic tick species into new regions and the introduction of
non-native tick species (Sonenshine 2018). Ticks are common
ectoparasites of horses (Duell et al. 2013, Sundstrom et al. 2021). Tick
bites can cause systemic reactions, irritation, and dermal trauma to
horses (Chang et al. 2000). Some species of Ixodid hard ticks can
transmit pathogens to horses that cause diseases such as Lyme
borreliosis, anaplasmosis, and equine piroplasmosis (Chang et al. 2000,
Butler et al. 2005, Pusterla and Madigan 2013, Onyiche et al. 2019).
These diseases, and other tick-associated conditions like gotch ear and
tick paralysis, are of rising concern to horse owners and equine
veterinarians in many areas of the United States (Butler et al. 2005,
Divers et al. 2018).
Horse industry surveys have shown that veterinarians are an important
source of information on equine health and care (Hockenhull et al. 2013,
Lofgren et al. 2016, Hartmann et al. 2017, Carroll et al., 2018).
Veterinarians were the third most important source of welfare
information for horse owners in Pennsylvania (author ETM, unpublished
data). Because equine practitioners are regularly consulted on health
topics, veterinarians are likely an important pathway to deliver
information on tick bite prevention and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) to
horse owners and caretakers and must be prepared to discuss optimal
strategies for tick prevention and control for their animals.
Equine veterinarians should know about ticks and TBDs to serve their
clientele best. However, there has been no research on veterinarian
perspectives focused on ticks and TBDs that affect horses. This survey
aimed to assess the experiences, knowledge, and practices of equine
veterinarians related to fundamental aspects of tick biology and
identification, tick bite prevention, and tick-borne disease in the
United States. This survey’s results can inform continuing education
development for veterinarians and augment horse owner and caretaker
knowledge.