Discussion
Horses are susceptible to multiple TBDs transmitted by Ixodid hard ticks in the U.S. As the distribution of ticks of medical and veterinary concern shifts, it will become increasingly important for veterinarians to have a working knowledge of ticks and TBDs of their region. This survey aimed to assess equine veterinarians’ current knowledge and perceptions regarding ticks and TBDs. The results indicate that while equine veterinarians are aware of the importance of TBDs in equine health, knowledge of ticks and TBDs vary significantly as was found with small mammal veterinarians (Crist et al. 2022).
Notably, while 75% of veterinarians could identify a blacklegged tick adult, only half of them correctly identified that blacklegged ticks were associated with Lyme disease. Less than half of respondents correctly associated Gulf Coast ticks and American dog ticks with tick paralysis. Additionally, most veterinarians were not confident in correctly identifying a tick. This is not surprising considering nearly three-quarters of respondents stated they did not have a course related to ticks in veterinary school. Awareness and concern for parasites but lack of knowledge about the system has been found previously withOnchocerca cervicalis and equine veterinarians in the UK (Mansell and Behnke 2022). This lack of veterinarian confidence in identifying tick species may impact equine health as accurate identification is crucial for diagnosing and treating TBDs.
There is a perceived need for an increase in the number of tick control options and on-animal tick bite prevention options. While most veterinarians have recommended tick bite prevention measures to clients, over 58% of veterinarians felt that there were not enough tick control options available. Most respondents wished to know more about tick bite prevention, products and options for tick prevention, and the best repellents for tick bite prevention. It was not surprising that the desire for more control options was higher from respondents from the northeastern states. Unfortunately, recent studies have demonstrated that permethrin, a commonly used active ingredient in arthropod repellent sprays for horses, is ineffective at preventing tick activity on horses at percentages tolerated by horses (Poh et al. 2023). Veterinarians also reported that, on average, clients were willing to spend just over $140 for tick control. This is similar to the ~$157.00 homeowners reported being willing to spend (Gould et al. 2008; adjusted to 2023 dollars). There is a need to develop effective, user-friendly, and economical tick control options, validate methods and tools currently available for use on or with horses, and provide information on these tools to veterinary professionals.
The availability of animal-specific resources regarding ticks and TBDs is limited, resulting in a greater emphasis for veterinarians to treat horses rather than prevent tick bites. Despite the concern of more than two-thirds of veterinarians surveyed about ticks on horses under their care, a significant majority of over 59% felt inadequate information was available to them on TBDs and tick bite prevention. Similarly, almost the same percentage of respondents believed that horse owners and caretakers also lacked sufficient information on these topics. These findings emphasize the need for greater education and training for veterinarians on ticks and TBDs and accessible and comprehensive information for horse owners and caretakers to prevent tick-borne illnesses in horses.
The inadequate training of veterinarians on ticks, particularly in the northeastern United States, poses a challenge in educating horse owners about tick-borne pathogens. Ticks are a significant concern for clients seeking veterinary care for their animals, but a considerable number of veterinarians reported that they did not receive adequate training on this topic during their veterinary education. This issue is particularly concerning in the northeastern United States, where the burden of TBDs affecting horses is high (USDA 2017, Thompson et al. 2022). Surprisingly, most veterinarians did not receive training on ticks in veterinary school. A previous study on B. burgdorferi in horses in Germany suggested that horse owners should be educated by veterinarians, but this can only happen if veterinarians themselves are adequately trained (Gall and Pfister 2006).
The importance of providing veterinary professionals with comprehensive knowledge on ticks and TBDs for effective prevention and treatment calls for various initiatives, including continuing education and partnerships within a One Health framework. To effectively prevent and treat TBDs, it is crucial to enhance the knowledge of veterinary professionals on ticks and TBDs. One way to achieve this goal is by providing continuing education to veterinarians. However, there is a need for more comprehensive approaches to enhance the knowledge and resources of veterinary professionals in TBDs. A recent study by Crist et al. (2022) suggested building capacity for training veterinarians through collaborations between academia, industry, and the human medicine community. Such partnerships would enable the sharing of knowledge, resources, and expertise that could strengthen the understanding and treatment of TBDs in the veterinary community. For example, human medicine practitioners can share information on the latest diagnostic tools and treatment approaches, while industry players can contribute funding and expertise in product development.
While the current study has limitations, including potential response bias and a limited sample from many states, the results of this survey highlight the importance of continued education and training for equine veterinarians on ticks and TBDs, as well as the development of effective and user-friendly tick control options. It also underscores the need for accessible and comprehensive information on tick bite prevention and TBDs for veterinarians, horse owners, and caretakers. Further research should be conducted to assess the impact of increased education and training on the knowledge and practices of equine veterinarians, as well as the development of new tick control options and their effectiveness. Future research should expand to better compare regional differences. Given the burden of ticks and TBDs on the equine community, it is especially vital for veterinarians to be prepared and knowledgeable on these topics. However, our results demonstrate that both initial and continued education and training for veterinarians on ticks, TBDs, and tick control options are required to adequately address, prevent, and treat TBDs that affect horses.
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Penn State Extension and the veterinarians who responded to this survey. We would also like to thank Matthew Spindler for his insight into the survey and survey results. This work was supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Hatch Appropriations under Project PEN04608 and Accession number 1010032.
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