Passive tick surveillance and detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in ticks from companion animals in British Columbia: 2018 to 2020.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to identify tick species and determine prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection 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 for B. burgdorferi undertaken on all Ixodes species identified by the Zoonotic Diseases and Emerging Pathogens Section of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory (BCCDC PHL).

RESULTS

Overall, 85% (n = 300) of ticks submitted were Ixodes spp., with the majority known to transmit B. burgdorferi. Furthermore, 0.8% (95% confidence interval: 0.094 to 2.78%) of these ticks were PCR-positive for B. burgdorferi.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although the B. burgdorferi positivity 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, B. burgdorferi 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.