The NETS Team has another opportunity to present survey data, results, and progress on March 3rd, 2020. We have been steadily receiving ticks since our last poster presentation, so the NETS poster got an upgrade! Below are the project abstract, additional diagrams, and the finalized poster used during presentation. For an in-depth explanation of poster figures, click here.
We appreciate the clinicians and horse owners who have continued to send us the ticks they find. In fact, we have added a few new states to the survey! Our data is rounding out beautifully and consistently, and we are excited to share it with the research, equine, and NETS communities.
Abstract:
Currently, there is no persistent, highly effective tick prevention commercially available for horses, leaving them vulnerable to disease and discomfort. Studying ticks on horses via the National Equine Tick Survey reveals patterns in data about tick species’ geographic distribution, seasonal prevalence, and other species characteristics as they relate to horses. Since October 2018, 49 veterinarians and owners were enrolled in the study across 22 states. In total, 1186 ticks were found on 222 horses and sent to the lab to be categorized by species, sex, and life stage. Information about the infested horses was collected as well, including geographic location, time spent in pasture, and tick location on the body. This data was then analyzed using Excel and MapViewer. Tick species collected included Dermacentor albipictus, Dermacentor variabilis, Dermacentor occidentalis, Amblyomma maculatum, Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes scapularis and Otobius megnini, with I. scapularis and A. americanum representing the two most prevalent species collected year round (36% and 22%, respectively). The majority of I. scapularis ticks were collected during the fall months in the Northeast, while the majority of A. americanum ticks were collected during the spring months in the Southeast. Data also showed that the ventral head/neck area was the most common site of attachment by I. scapularis, while the inguinal area was the most common site for A. americanum. By documenting the burden and diversity of equine ticks, the results of this survey highlight the significance of ticks as a medical problem for horses.
Where submitted ticks have been found on horses
Note: at least one tick has been found on every body region!
Presenting Poster