top of page

British Columbia

Flag_of_British_Columbia.gif
western blacklegged.jpg

WESTERN BLACKLEGGED TICK

Ixodes pacificus

Feeds on: This aggressive species feeds on a wide range of hosts, including deer, dogs, cats, sheep, various species of birds, mice, lizards, squirrels, and humans.(1)
Pathogens transmitted: Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis), tularaemia, causes tick paralysis in dogs and other animals, and people can develop an allergic reaction to repeated bites. Bartonella henselae has been found in this species of tick, but more research is required to prove they are competent vectors of this disease in humans.(1)

​

Dermacentor_andersoni rocky mountain.jpg

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WOOD TICK

Dermacentor andersoni

Feeds on: This species of tick will feed on pretty much anything it encounters, including horses, domestic cattle, wild goats and sheep, coyotes, porcupines, rabbits, grizzly bears, deer, moose, marmots, squirrels, various bird species, dogs, and humans.(1)
Pathogens transmitted: Carries tularaemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii), Colorado tick fever, Powassan Virus, and causes tick paralysis.(1)

angustus copy.jpg

IXODES ANGUSTUS

Ixodes angustus

Feeds on: Wide distribution throughout Canada and the rest of North America makes this tick one of the most commonly encountered. Ixodes angustus typically feeds on rodents and small animals including cats and dogs, and though it is less common it is also  known to bite humans.(1)
Pathogens transmitted: Carries and is a competent vector of Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), and Babesia microti.(1)

Ixodes (Ixodes) spinipalpis copy.jpg

IXODES SPINIPALPIS

Ixodes spinipalpis

Feeds on: Most commonly feeds on rats, pikas and other small nesting animals, but is known to bite a wide range of animals including birds and humans.(1)
Pathogens transmitted: Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Borrelia bissetti, Babesia microti, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis, Powassan Virus, Borrelia genomospecies 2 (multiple strain genomic group within the B. burgdorferi s. l. complex).(1)(9)

racoon tick.jpg

RACCOON TICK

Ixodes texanus

Feeds on: This tick typically feeds on raccoons, but are also known to bite squirrels and dogs.(1)
Pathogens transmitted: Strains of Babesia, Rickettsia rickettsii,  and Ehrlichiae; also carries Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)though vector competency is unclear at this time.(1)(8)

Rhipicephalus_sanguineus brown dog tick.

BROWN DOG TICK

rhipicephalus sanguineus

Feeds on: Though this species primary feeds on dogs, it is known to bite a wide variety of hosts, opportunistically encountering humans and other domestic animals associated with dogs.(1)(6)
Pathogens transmitted: The brown dog tick is a known vector of numerous pathogens including canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis), canine babesiosis (Babesia canis vogeli), and canine hepatozoonosis (Hepatozoon canis) in dogs, as well as Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii), and tick bite fever (Rickettsia conorii) in humans.(1)(6)

Amblyomma_americanum lone star.jpg

LONE STAR TICK

Amblyomma americanum

Feeds on: Though it has been found in all provinces but SK, NB and PEI, significant populations of this species are not yet established in Canada. This very aggressive species of tick feeds on a wide variety of mammals and birds including coyotes, deer, and domestic animals, and is known to bite and transmit disease to humans (1)(2)(4).
Pathogens transmitted: human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, tularaemia, southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), tick paralysis, alpha-gal syndrome red meat allergy, Heartland virus disease, Bourbon virus disease. Though less common, lone star ticks also carry and spread Coxiella burnettii induced Q-fever, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommii, and Panola Mountain ehrlichiosis. (1) (4)

rabbit tick.png

RABBIT TICK

Haemaphysalis leporispalustris

Feeds on: As inferred from its common name this abundant species of tick most commonly feeds on rabbits and hares, however, it also feeds on a variety of birds, with less common accounts of feeding on larger mammals and humans.(1)
Pathogens transmitted: Rickettsia canadensis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii) Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), with the potential to disseminate other pathogens as a result of its association with birds regularly infested by blacklegged ticks.(1)

bottom of page