TICKS IN TORONTO

• Blacklegged ticks have been documented in several Toronto parks, particularly in wooded, bushy, or grassy areas.
• Blacklegged ticks are known to carry the bacteria associated with Lyme Disease.
• Limited reports of lone star ticks come out of Ontario. Most are explained by recent trips south.

• Toronto Public Health tests for:

1. Lyme disease
2. Borrelia miyamotoi
3. Anaplasma phagocytophilium
4. Babesia odocoilei
5. Powassan virus

• TPH does not test for Alpha-gal syndrome
• Alpha-gal syndrome is not passed through a pathogen
• Testing cannot be done in the same way

• Bites are the primary transmitter of Lyme disease.
• Ticks usually attach themsleves to a host for 3 to 7 days.
• This timeframe depends on the tick species, life stage, and environmental factors.

• Transmission of Lyme typically requires 24-36 hours of tick attachment.

• See the current PDF for summarized details of the recent surveys done by Toronto Public Health.

• We highly recommend talking to your vet about topical tick medications, such as K9 Advantix II, Frontline Plus, or Vectra 3D. Discuss the pros and cons of oral medications as well, such as Bravecto, Simparica Trio, or NexGard (we do not endorse any product we mention here, this list is for awareness and information only. Please talk to your vet.).
• You can perform your own tick checks at home, while you brush or wash your dog. As long as ticks are removed within 24 hours of attachment, there is little risk of transmission posed. 

• Toronto Public Health conducts "Tick Dragging" tests each fall, which is the most active time of year for tick populations.
• This test involves dragging a white cloth sheet through vegetation to collect ticks.
• The collected ticks are counted, and then tested for Lyme bacteria.

 https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/lyme-disease/blacklegged-tick-surveillance-results/ 

For any questions and/or comments pertaining to ticks in Toronto, please reach out to Toronto Public Health directly. This page is intended to provide information only.

• Toronto Public Health
  Mon - Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  (closed on statutory holidays)

• Contact General
  Telephone: 416-338-7600
  TTY: 416-392-0658
  Email: PublicHealth@toronto.ca

• Media Inquiries
  Email: TPHmedia@toronto.ca

• Emergency After Hours
  To report a public health emergency after hours and on statutory holidays. Please ask for the on-call Public Health Manager.
  Telephone: 311 (416-392-2489)