An assessment of equine veterinarian knowledge and perceptions of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the United States to inform continuing education needs

Authors: MACHTINGER, ERIKA - Pennsylvania State University; SMARSH, DANIELLE - Pennsylvania State University; KENNY, LAURA - Pennsylvania University; Poh, Karen; ORR-GISSINGER, ERIN - Pennsylvania State University; KIRKLAND, BRITTANI - Pennsylvania University; SPRINGER, HAYLEY - Pennsylvania University

Submitted to: Equine Veterinary Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/13/2023
Publication Date: 12/20/2023
Citation: Machtinger, E.T., Smarsh, D.N., Kenny, L.B., Poh, K.C., Orr-Gissinger, E.L., Kirkland, B.G., Springer, H.R. 2023. An assessment of equine veterinarian knowledge and perceptions of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the United States to inform continuing education needs. Equine Veterinary Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13931.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13931

Interpretive Summary: Ticks are common ectoparasites of horses and tick bites can lead to direct and indirect health effects. Veterinarians are often a sought-out resource by horse owners and caretakers for tick-borne disease (TBD) diagnoses and tick prevention and control, however, there has been no research to understand the needs and perspectives of veterinarians when it comes to equine TBDs and tick control. A survey was administered to US veterinarians that assessed their knowledge about ticks, TBDs, tick control, tick infestation, and tick education availability. The survey identified that while they often see ticks on their equine clients, veterinarians did not feel fully prepared to assess TBDs and provide effective tick control options based on their veterinary and continuing education. Overall, veterinarians would like more resources and references in order to adequately assess equine TBDs. In order to address the growing concern from the equine industry about equine TBDs, it is vital that veterinarians are trained to provide diagnoses of TBDs and advice on tick control methods for horse owners and caretakers. To do so, collaborations between academia, industry, and the human medicine community are suggested to build capacity for training veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Ticks can harm horses and transmit diseases, making them a growing concern for owners and veterinarians. Veterinarians play a crucial role in providing advice on tick prevention and control. Yet, no research has examined their perspectives on equine ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBD). The objective was to assess the experiences, knowledge, and practices of equine veterinarians related to fundamental aspects of tick biology and identification, tick bite prevention, and TBD in the United States. This project surveyed US equine veterinarians about their knowledge of ticks and TBD affecting horses using nonprobability convenience sampling. The survey questions were grouped into six categories: respondent demographics, knowledge of ticks and TBDs, tick control option availability, tick and TBD frequency on horses, and veterinary education and information availability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and t-tests. The sample was divided into Northeast and US veterinarians, and a significance level of P<0.05 was set. The study aimed to inform continuing education development for veterinarians by assessing their knowledge, practices, and perceptions of ticks and TBDs. The results indicate that while equine veterinarians are aware of the importance of TBDs in equine health, knowledge on ticks and TBDs vary significantly. Limitations for the current study include potential response bias and a limited sample from many states. There is a need for increased tick control and prevention options, as well as more animal-specific resources for tick and TBD prevention. Veterinarians and horse owners require greater education and comprehensive information to prevent tick-borne illnesses in horses. Collaborations between academia, industry, and the human medicine community are suggested to build capacity for training veterinarians.