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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