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Barriers to entry: A participatory science study of tick identification, monitoring, and physical barriers to reduce tick bites on horses.
Abstract: Equine tick-borne diseases pose increasing challenges due to climate change and expanding tick geographical ranges. With no vaccines available for Lyme disease or equine anaplasmosis in horses, tick bite prevention remains the primary control method. This two-year study evaluated tick species composition on horses in Pennsylvania and assessed the effectiveness of physical barriers for tick prevention through community-based participatory research. The study engaged horse owners as research partners. Year 1 (2022) established baseline tick surveillance across 45 participants with 60 horses, conducting weekly tick checks from April to June. Year 2 (2023) evaluated physical barrier interventions using 50 horses assigned to three treatments: No Treatment (control), Physical Barrier (Untreated), and Physical Barrier (Treated with permethrin), with twice-weekly surveillance. A total of 413 ticks were collected, with species composition shifts between years. Species recovered included American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), and longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis), which were detected for the first time in one of the counties in the study region. Tick attachment occurred across eight body locations and differed significantly between years. Physical barriers, particularly untreated fly boots and masks, were associated with reduced tick attachment. Comprehensive whole-body surveillance remains essential given consistent tick distribution across anatomical regions.
Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
Publication Date: 2026-10-07 PubMed ID: 42842543PubMed Central: PMC13645029DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0357053Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
Overview
- This study investigated the types of ticks present on horses in Pennsylvania and tested physical methods to prevent tick bites, involving horse owners directly in the research process to enhance practical understanding and solutions.
Background and Importance
- Equine tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease and equine anaplasmosis, are increasing threats largely due to climate change and expanding tick populations geographically.
- No vaccines exist currently for these diseases in horses, making prevention of tick bites the most effective control measure.
- The study aimed to better understand tick species on horses and explore physical barriers as practical tick bite prevention methods.
Study Design and Methodology
- The research spanned two years and was conducted as a community-based participatory study, meaning horse owners were engaged as active research partners.
- Year 1 (2022): Baseline surveillance occurred, involving 45 participants and 60 horses.
- Weekly tick checks were performed from April to June, focusing on identifying tick species and their distribution on horses.
- Year 2 (2023): Intervention phase involving 50 horses divided into three groups:
- No Treatment (Control group)
- Physical Barrier – Untreated (e.g., fly boots and masks not treated with insecticide)
- Physical Barrier – Treated (with permethrin, an insecticide)
- Tick surveillance increased to twice weekly for more detailed monitoring during interventions.
Findings: Tick Species and Distribution
- A total of 413 ticks were collected over the study period.
- Three tick species were identified:
- American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis)
- Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), commonly known as deer ticks
- Longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis), newly detected for the first time in one of the counties studied, indicating an expanding range.
- There was a noted shift in species composition between the two study years, reflecting possible environmental or temporal variations.
- Ticks attached on eight different body locations on horses, indicating widespread tick presence rather than concentration in specific areas.
- Attachment patterns and preferred body sites differed significantly between years, suggesting changing tick behavior or seasonal effects.
Effectiveness of Physical Barriers
- Usage of physical barriers like fly boots and masks was associated with a reduction in tick attachment on horses.
- Untreated physical barriers (without insecticide) still showed protective effects, indicating mechanical prevention is beneficial.
- Treated physical barriers (with permethrin) were expected to offer further protection, although the paper’s abstract emphasizes the utility of untreated gear as well.
- This suggests that simple physical barriers can be an effective, practical tool for horse owners to limit tick exposure.
Implications and Recommendations
- Given the consistent detection of ticks across multiple anatomical regions, comprehensive whole-body tick surveillance remains critical for effective monitoring and management.
- The involvement of horse owners as partners in research is beneficial for real-world testing and adoption of tick prevention strategies.
- Physical barrier approaches, especially the use of fly boots and masks, represent a feasible, non-chemical tool to reduce tick infestation risks.
- New detection of longhorned ticks highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance and preparedness for emerging tick species.
- Overall, this study supports integrating physical barriers into tick prevention regimens for horses in tick-endemic regions to reduce disease risk.
Cite This Article
APA
Machtinger ET, Poh KC, Kenny LB, Smarsh DN.
(2026).
Barriers to entry: A participatory science study of tick identification, monitoring, and physical barriers to reduce tick bites on horses.
PLoS One, 21(10), e0357053.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357053 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Penn State Extension, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
- Penn State Extension, Pennsylvania State University, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
- Department of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Ticks / classification
- Tick Bites / prevention & control
- Tick Bites / veterinary
- Pennsylvania
- Permethrin
- Tick-Borne Diseases / prevention & control
- Tick-Borne Diseases / veterinary
- Female
- Haemaphysalis longicornis
- Tick Control / methods
- Tick Infestations / veterinary
- Tick Infestations / prevention & control
- Dermacentor
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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