Tick Borne Diseases in Canada: A Growing Threat to Livestock Production

Why Canadian producers need to pay closer attention to one of nature's smallest disease carriers.

When most Canadian livestock producers think about biosecurity, they often focus on diseases introduced through visitors, vehicles, wildlife, contaminated equipment, or animal movement.

While these remain significant risks, another threat has been quietly expanding across the country, the increasing presence of ticks and the diseases they carry.

Driven by warmer temperatures, changing wildlife populations, and expanding tick habitats, tick-borne diseases are becoming an increasingly important concern for Canadian livestock producers. Although the impact has historically been greater in other parts of the world, Canada's changing climate is creating more favourable conditions for several tick species to survive and spread.



Understanding these risks is becoming an important part of modern farm biosecurity.

Learn more about tick species found in Canada. 

What Are Tick Borne Diseases?

Ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and occasionally humans. During feeding, they can transmit bacteria, viruses, and parasites capable of causing serious disease.

Unlike flies or mosquitoes that feed quickly, ticks may remain attached for several days, providing ample opportunity for disease transmission.

Canada is home to several tick species, including:

·    Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis) 

·    Western Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes pacificus) 

·    American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis) 

·    Winter Tick (Dermacentor albipictus) 

·    Moose Tick

Groundhog Tick

Not every tick carries disease, but the geographic range of disease, carrying ticks continues to expand.

Tick Borne Diseases Affecting Canadian Livestock

Anaplasmosis

One of the most significant tick-borne diseases affecting cattle is Anaplasmosis, caused by the bacterium Anaplasma marginale.

Although more common in warmer climates, the disease has been identified in parts of Canada and remains a concern as tick populations expand.

Clinical signs include:

·    Severe anemia

·    Fever

·    Weakness

·    Weight loss

·    Reduced milk production

·    Abortion

·    Sudden death in mature cattle



Recovered animals often become lifelong carriers, serving as reservoirs for future infections.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides additional information on bovine anaplasmosis.

Lyme Disease

Most Canadians associate Lyme disease with people, but horses, dogs, cattle, sheep, and goats can also become infected.

While clinical disease in livestock is relatively uncommon, infected animals may experience:

·    Lameness

·    Joint inflammation

·    Reduced performance

·    Fever

·    Neurological signs in some cases

Horses appear to be particularly susceptible to clinical illness compared to other livestock species.

Babesiosis

Often referred to as "tick fever," Babesiosis is caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells.

Although Canada remains free from widespread livestock babesiosis, the disease is established in many parts of the world and represents an emerging concern due to international animal movement and changing tick distributions.

Clinical signs include:

·    High fever

·    Anemia

·    Weakness

·    Jaundice

·    Reduced production

·    Death in severe cases

Maintaining Canada's disease-free status depends heavily on strong surveillance and biosecurity.

Theileriosis

Theileriosis is another parasitic disease transmitted by ticks in many regions of the world.



While not currently widespread in Canada, increasing international movement of animals and climate change mean producers should remain aware of emerging risks.

Learn more about theileriosis and current Canadian surveillance.

Tick Paralysis

Some ticks produce toxins while feeding that can cause temporary paralysis.

Affected animals may develop:

·    Weakness

·    Difficulty standing

·    Progressive paralysis

·    Respiratory failure in severe cases

Fortunately, animals often recover rapidly once the tick is removed.

What About Poultry?

Domestic poultry are generally less affected by ticks than mammals, but they are certainly not immune.

Outdoor flocks, backyard poultry, free-range birds, and game birds have greater exposure to ticks carried by wildlife.

Ticks may contribute to:

·    Blood loss

·    Skin irritation

·    Reduced weight gain

·    Lower egg production

·    Secondary bacterial infections

·    Transmission of certain bacterial and viral pathogens



Wild birds also play an important role in transporting ticks over long distances, introducing them into previously unaffected areas.

Why Tick Risks Are Increasing

Several factors are contributing to the growing concern surrounding tick-borne diseases in Canada:

Climate Change

Longer growing seasons and milder winters improve tick survival and allow populations to establish farther north than ever before.

Wildlife Movement

Deer, rodents, migratory birds, coyotes, and other wildlife transport ticks across large geographic areas.

Increased Outdoor Production

Pasture-based cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and free-range poultry naturally have greater exposure to tick habitats.



International Animal Movement

Global trade increases the importance of surveillance for new tick species and emerging diseases.

The Public Health Agency of Canada monitors tick populations and tick-borne diseases across the country. 

An Emerging Threat: The Lone Star Tick

Another species attracting increased attention is the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum). Traditionally associated with the southeastern United States, recent submissions to eTick Canada indicate that Lone Star ticks are being detected with increasing frequency in parts of southwestern Ontario, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance as tick ranges expand northward. Climate change, migratory birds, deer, and other wildlife are all believed to contribute to the movement of ticks into new regions. While researchers continue to monitor whether the species is becoming established in Ontario, producers should remain aware of this emerging risk.

The Lone Star Tick is unique because it has been linked to Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS), a condition that can cause people to develop an allergic reaction to mammalian meat, including beef, pork, lamb, and venison, after being bitten by the tick. Although AGS is a human health condition rather than a livestock disease, its increasing visibility has important implications for Canada's beef, pork and sheep industries. As awareness grows, continued surveillance, producer education, and proactive biosecurity will help maintain consumer confidence while supporting both public health and animal agriculture. Pet owners should also remain vigilant, as dogs that spend time in tall grass, wooded areas, or pasture can carry ticks back into homes and onto farms, increasing the risk of exposure for both people and livestock. The recent coverage of tick activity in Ontario serves as a reminder that tick awareness is important for the entire farm family, not just livestock.

A recent article in Farmtario also explains the importance of being vigilant regarding tick awareness.

Report It. Track It. Protect Canadian Agriculture.

If you find a tick on yourself, your family, your pets, or your livestock, consider submitting a photo to eTick Canada. The free platform helps identify tick species and contributes valuable data used by researchers and public health officials to monitor the spread of ticks across Canada. Early reporting helps improve surveillance and supports efforts to protect both animal and human health.

Biosecurity: Your Best Defence

Fortunately, many of the same biosecurity principles that reduce infectious disease risks also help reduce tick exposure.

Manage Pastures

Keep grass and brush trimmed around barns, laneways, and handling facilities.

Ticks thrive in shaded, moist vegetation.

Control Wildlife Access

Reduce opportunities for deer and other wildlife to enter livestock areas through fencing and habitat management where practical.

Conduct Routine Animal Inspections

Regularly inspect cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and outdoor poultry for attached ticks, particularly during spring and summer.

Early removal greatly reduces disease transmission.

Manage Rodent Populations

Rodents serve as important hosts for immature ticks and contribute to maintaining tick populations.

An effective pest management program supports overall farm biosecurity.

Train Employees

Ensure everyone working with livestock knows how to identify ticks and recognizes early signs of tick-borne illness.

Early detection often improves outcomes.



Work Closely with Your Veterinarian

Prompt diagnosis and treatment can minimize production losses and reduce the spread of disease.

Cleaning and Disinfection Still Matter

While disinfectants cannot eliminate ticks living in pastures or on wildlife, proper cleaning and disinfection remain critical components of disease prevention.

Ticks are only one pathway for disease introduction.

Maintaining clean barns, trailers, handling equipment, footwear, and vehicles helps prevent the spread of countless bacterial and viral diseases that can accompany animal movement.

At EthoGuard, we believe biosecurity works best when multiple layers of protection are used together.

Using a broad-spectrum disinfectant such as Prevail® Concentrate, alongside good pasture management, pest control, wildlife exclusion, and strong animal health monitoring, creates a more resilient biosecurity program.



There is no single solution that prevents every disease but combining effective cleaning, disinfection, surveillance, and management practices significantly reduces overall disease risk.

Biosecurity Is About Staying Ahead

As Canada's environment continues to change, producers must remain vigilant against both familiar and emerging disease threats.

Ticks may be small, but the diseases they carry can have significant consequences for animal welfare, productivity, and farm profitability.

Strong biosecurity isn't just about responding to today's challenges—it's about preparing for tomorrow's.



By incorporating tick awareness into routine herd and flock health management, Canadian producers can better protect their animals, safeguard productivity, and strengthen the resilience of Canadian agriculture.

At EthoGuard, we believe that proactive biosecurity is always more effective and less costly than responding to a disease outbreak after it occurs.

Biosecurity Is a Team Effort

Managing tick-borne disease risks is just one part of building a strong biosecurity program. From cleaning and disinfection to equipment, training, and biosecurity planning, every layer of protection helps safeguard animal health and farm productivity.



If you'd like more information or a detailed presentation on ticks and tick borne diseases, the team at EthoGuard is ready to help. Reach out through our Contact Page, we'd be happy to answer your questions.