Ixodes angustus (no common name)
Ixodes angustus ticks are probably better known in British Columbia than elsewhere in Canada due to the role this species is thought to play in the transmission of Lyme disease in Canada's westernmost province.
Groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei)
Groundhog ticks are widespread throughout much of southern Ontario and Quebec as well as in other southerly locations in eastern Canada where they make their homes in the dens of their hosts as far west as Manitoba. They look remarkably like blacklegged ticks in terms of size and other physical characteristics, so much so that the average person has difficulty telling them apart. One hint that you may be looking at a groundhog tick and not a blacklegged tick is that peak activity for adult groundhog ticks is in mid-summer while adult blacklegged ticks are most active in spring and fall.
American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
Today I'm going to introduce you to a domestic tick that you've probably already encountered even if you didn't know its identity.
American dog ticks are large, reddish-to-greyish brown ticks that are fairly easy to spot. As their common name suggests, dogs are an important host for adult American dog ticks although this tick species is neither restricted to the US nor does it rely solely on dogs for the blood it needs to propel its lifecycle.
Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni)
This is a tick species that British Columbians know well.
Rocky Mountain wood ticks are, not surprisingly, predominantly found in the Rocky Mountain region of Canada. They are widespread throughout the BC interior where they’re often found in concert with Saskatoons (Amelanchier canadensis) and native roses (Rosa spp.).
NEW SERIES: Know your ticks
Of the roughly 40 tick species known to make their home in Canada, there are nine that are capable of transmitting bacteria, viruses, and/or protozoa to humans and domestic animals. Non-infectious secretions from the salivary glands of some species can also cause paralysis, allergic reactions and/or immune system suppression.
Exploring the unique characteristics of Lyme bacteria
When you take a look at the career of microbiologist George Chaconas, there’s a clearly identifiable moment when the focus of his research abruptly shifted from the study of one fairly obscure organism to another.
Tick-borne illnesses in Canadian horses
When it comes to horses, two things are immediately clear: Everyone loves them and no one likes it when they get sick. That’s especially true if the offending disease is hard to diagnose.
Understanding the ecology and risks of Powassan virus in Canada
Powassan virus has been generating headlines in Canada in recent months following news reports that an Ottawa woman developed encephalitis in the wake of a tick bite more than a year ago and has been hooked up to a ventilator ever since.
The Lyme-climate connection
Climate change is a huge topic for Canadians to wrap their brains around and, frankly, most of us don’t have time to delve into the specifics. If you ask the average Canadian what the impact of climate change will be on their lives, most have no trouble stating that it will cause temperatures to rise, glaciers to melt, and forests to be reduced to ash.
TICK-BORNE RELAPSING FEVER (TBRF)
TBRF is one of the oldest known tick-borne illnesses in this country, with documented cases in the BC Interior stretching as far back to the early 1930s.