Knowledge and perception of equine ticks and tick-borne diseases of Pennsylvania horse owners and caretakers.

The research paper is about the understanding and management of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) among horse caretakers in Pennsylvania. It reveals a significant level of concern among caretakers about TBDs, and calls for better education in recognizing and managing these diseases.

Objective

This research was conducted to survey the level of knowledge and perception of equine TBDs in the state of Pennsylvania. The study sought to understand how well horse owners and caretakers can identify ticks and diseases they carry, their concern about such diseases, and how they manage potential tick infections.

Method

• An online survey was used to collect information from horse caretakers and owners.
• The descriptive statistics method and one-way ANOVA tests were employed for data analysis.

Results

• The survey received 894 responses from Pennsylvania equine owners and caretakers, with the largest proportion taking care of 3-5 horses.
• The diagnosis rates of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, two common TBDs, were found to be 38% and 22% respectively when confirmed by a veterinarian.
• The study found disparity in recognition comfort levels between both diseases, with most respondents being moderately confident in recognizing Lyme disease but not at all for Anaplasmosis.
• A majority of the respondents (69%) expressed either extreme or high concern about the possibility of their horses contracting any TBDs.
• Common preventive measures used include performing tick checks, using on-animal repellents, and managing the horses’ pasture or landscape.
• When participants were assessed on the knowledge of ticks and TBDs based on a ten-question tests, a mean score of 3.97 ± 2.18 was achieved out of a possible 10.
• Higher knowledge scores was significantly associated with prior veterinarian-confirmed Lyme disease diagnosis, greater concern about TBDs, and more frequent tick checks.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Given the high level of concern about TBDs and the increased prevalence in horses, the research suggests that more efforts should be directed at teaching about TBDs and managing ticks on horses and farms by Extension educators. Improved knowledge on these factors can help horse caretakers more effectively prevent and manage these diseases.