Grant: Alliance Grants

Ticks vector the widest array of disease-causing organisms of all hematophagous arthropods and are second only to mosquitoes in their capacity to transmit disease agents of importance to human and veterinary health. A warming climate has promoted the spread of medically and economically important tick species. The northward spread of black-legged ticks has dramatically increased the incidence of Lyme disease in Canada, and the population of American dog tick is expected to expand significantly in Canada in the upcoming years leading to increase of transmission of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. In the absence of effective vaccines against major tick-borne diseases, controlling ticks using repellent and acaricides products remains a primary method to protect animals and humans against tick bites and the diseases they vector. However, changing climate conditions may impact the performance of repellency products and the effect on ticks in ways that are unknown.This project assembles an interdisciplinary team that will examine the impacts of climate change on tick responses to repellent products, investigating the mode of action of active ingredients, to successfully manage tick populations and vector-borne diseases in the changing climate. We propose to investigate how long-term exposure to low and high temperature and relative humidity may impact the behavioural and physiological response of two medically important tick species (black-legged tick and American dog tick) and the efficacy of their control products under these conditions, simulating expected seasonal changes.The understanding of how ticks respond to repellent products in a changing climate, will equip Canadians and will close the knowledge gap with more data, procedures and effective tools to control these pests. It will help to develop new efficacious tick management products, ensure the continued efficacy of current products, and will continue to provide alternatives for tick bite prevention.