A new species of tick present in Châteauguay

While black-legged ticks are firmly established in Quebec, the arrival of the American dog tick and the many diseases they can transmit are causing concern. The latter has indeed been identified in several places, including Châteauguay, as reported by the Journal de Montréal.

English revision by Amanda Bennett

In an interview with the Journal de Montréal, Bishop University entomologist Jade Savage explained that the American dog tick could be a carrier "of diseases such as tularemia, which can cause skin, digestive or respiratory problems, as well as ehrlichiosis, an infection responsible for fever, chills, muscle aches and headaches."

Black-legged ticks, on the other hand, have been known for many years for their ability to transmit Lyme disease to humans.

In the Journal de Montréal article, Ms. Savage indicated that the American dog tick would spread in Quebec thanks to birds, dogs, and travelers returning from abroad.

Mapping the nuisance

On the e-tick website, which lists the presence of these insects using an interactive map, people have reported the presence of ticks in Beauharnois four times between 2020 and 2022 and once in Léry and Châteauguay in 2022. Between 2021 and 2023, about 16 ticks were observed in the cities of Sainte-Catherine, Delson, Candiac, Saint-Constant, and La Prairie.

This arthropod species, which carries bacteria and viruses by sucking the blood of mammals, is found in high concentrations in the Estrie region, Ms. Savage said in her interview with the JDM.