Tick-Borne Disease Survey forManitoba Veterinary Professionals

Tick-Borne Disease Survey for Manitoba Veterinary Professionals
This survey is for veterinarians and veterinary technologists, but only one survey should be filled out for each veterinary clinic or practice.

Manitoba Agriculture is collaborating with the MVMA to conduct this survey to assess the status of tick-borne disease in domestic animals in the care of Manitoba veterinary clinics. Your input will be important to understand tick borne disease prevalence, diagnostics, treatment, and prevention success rates. Respondents should complete the survey based on their own experiences and opinions. One section of the survey asks respondents to have clinic data on-hand, if available.

All information collected in this survey is protected under the Freedom of Information Public Protection Act (FIPPA). At no time shall any personal information be made public.

Prior to sharing of results, all data will be summarized according to regional boundaries. Results will be reported to the MVMA for distribution to its membership.

Participation in this survey is voluntary, and you can stop at any time. Please answer questions to the best of your knowledge.

All responses are appreciated and will be kept confidential.

For questions about the survey, email Manitoba Agriculture:

Dr. Alexandra Jerao at alexandra.jerao@gov.mb.ca or Dr. Dale Douma at dale.douma@gov.mb.ca
Screening
1. What is the primary Manitoba municipality you work in?
2. Are you a veterinarian or registered veterinary technologist? (Select one)

veterinarianregistered veterinary technologistOther
3. Please indicate which species of animals you see in your practice (select all that apply):

CanineFelineEquineBovineSwineCaprine/OvinePoultryExotic animalsOther
Section 1: Tick ID
1. I feel comfortable identifying tick species.

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Strongly disagree, 5 is Strongly agree

2A. Please estimate the frequency (percentage) of how often you do the following when identifying tick species. (Percentages must add up to 100%)

	Percentage
Submit it to eTick
Use visual comparison
Ask an associate for help
Send ticks to a lab for ID
Dispose of it without further examination of the species
Other (please state below)

2B. If "other" used above, please provide description here.

3. Within the past 12 months, have you seen any of the following ticks in your clinic?

	Seen within the last 12 months	Not seen within the last 12 months	Have identified over 12 months ago
Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis)
American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum)
Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)
Winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus)

Section 2: Seasonality and Prevention of Tick Borne Disease(TBD)
4. What months do you recommend tick prevention for your patients? (Select all that apply)

Spring– March to JuneSummer– July to AugustFall– September to NovemberWinter– December to February
5. In which months do you notice ticks on your patients? (select all that apply)

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
6. What preventative measures do you recommend to your clients? (Select all that apply)

Prescription topical treatmentsPrescription oral treatmentsTick/flea collarsManual tick checks and removalNon-prescription topical treatments (i.e. fly spray)Avoidance of tick-risk areasOther
7. In your opinion, how effective are the following tick prevention measures?
A. Prescription topical treatments:

Very effectiveEffectiveSomewhat effectiveNo effectDo not use/ do not recommend
B. Prescription oral treatments:

Very effectiveEffectiveSomewhat effectiveNo effectDo not use/ do not recommend
C. Tick/flea collars:

Very effectiveEffectiveSomewhat effectiveNo effectDo not use/ do not recommend
D. Manual tick checks and removal:

Very effectiveEffectiveSomewhat effectiveNo effectDo not use/ do not recommend
E. Non-prescription topical treatments (i.e. fly spray):

Very effectiveEffectiveSomewhat effectiveNo effectDo not use/ do not recommend
F. Avoidance of tick-risk areas:

Very effectiveEffectiveSomewhat effectiveNo effectDo not use/ do not recommend
G1. Do you use another tick prevention measure not listed above?

YesNo
G2. Description of tick prevention measure not listed above:
G3. "other" effectiveness:

Very effectiveEffectiveSomewhat effectiveNo effectDo not use/ do not recommend
8. Most of my clients follow my prevention recommendations.

Strongly disagreeDisagreeNo opinionAgreeStrongly agree
9. My clients request the Lyme vaccination for their dogs.

NeverRarelyOftenAlwaysNot applicable
Section 3: Testing and Diagnosis

Please have your clinic data available for this section.
10. The following will ask about the number of individual cases in 2022. In the case of animals maintained in herds, please count a positive herd as one case.
A. How many cases of Borellia burgodorferi (Lyme disease) did you/your clinic see in 2022?

01-1011-2021-3031-4040+
B. How many cases of Anaplasma marginale did you/your clinic see in 2022?

01-1011-2021-3031-4040+
C. How many cases of Anaplasma sp. (other than A. marginale) did you/your clinic see in 2022?

01-1011-2021-3031-4040+
D. How many cases of Babesia sp. did you/your clinic see in 2022?

01-1011-2021-3031-4040+
E. How many cases of Rickettsia sp. did you/your clinic see in 2022?

01-1011-2021-3031-4040+
F. How many cases of Ehrlichia sp. did you/your clinic see in 2022?

01-1011-2021-3031-4040+
11. How many SNAP 4Dx tests were used in your clinic in 2022? (Please enter a numerical value)
12. How did you diagnose the following TBDs?
A. How did you diagnose Borellia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)?

SNAP 4DXReference laboratory: ELISA, Western blot, line immunoassays, fluorescent bead-based multiplex assaysOther
B. How did you diagnose Anaplasma marginale?

SNAP 4Dx testMicroscopic evaluation of blood smearsReference laboratory: ELISA, Western blot, line immunoassays, fluorescent bead-based multiplex assaysOther
C. How did you diagnose Anaplasma sp. (other than A. marginale) ?

SNAP 4Dx testMicroscopic evaluation of blood smearsReference laboratory: ELISA, Western blot, line immunoassays, fluorescent bead-based multiplex assaysOther
D. How did you diagnose Babesia sp. ?

Microscopic evaluation of blood smearsReference laboratory: ELISA, Western blot, line immunoassays, fluorescent bead-based multiplex assaysOther
E. How did you diagnose Rickettsia sp.?

Paired indired fluorescent antibody titre (IFA) 4 weeks apartOther
F. How did you diagnose Ehrlichia sp.?

SNAP 4Dx testMicroscopic evaluation of blood smearsIndirect fluorescent antibody titreOther
13. If you send your tests to a laboratory, which lab(s) do you send them to?

Veterinary Diagnostic ServicesPrairie Diagnostic ServicesIDEXX Laboratory ServicesOther
Section 4: Treatment and Vaccination
14. How do you decide to treat a TBD case? (Select all that apply)

Patient presents symptoms of TBDKnown exposure to TBDOther
15. Once diagnosed, approximately what percentage of tick borne disease cases are treated in your clinic?

Less than 10%11-25%26-50%51-75%76-100%
16. How did you treat the following TBDs?
A)How did you treat Borellia burgdoferi? (Check all that apply)

DoxycyclineTetracyclineAmoxicillinNSAIDsOther
B. How did you treat Anaplasma marginale? (Check all that apply)

DoxycyclineTetracyclineOxytetracyclineFluid therapyBlood transfusion(s)ImidocarbOther
C. How did you treat Anaplasma sp.(other than A. marginale)? (Check all that apply)

DoxycyclineTetracyclineOxytetracyclineBlood transfusion(s)ImidocarbOther
D. How did you treat Babesia sp.? (Check all that apply)

Diminazene aceturateImidocarbNSAIDsCorticosteroidsFluid therapyBlood transfusion(s)Other
E. How did you treat Rickettsia sp.? (Check all that apply)

DoxycyclineTetracyclineChloramphenicolFluid therapyOther
F. How did you treat Ehrlichia sp.? (Check all that apply)

DoxycyclineTetracyclineImidocarbFluid therapyOther
17. Have any TBD cases, treated or not, later developed complications due to the associated TBD?

YesNo
A. What complication developed due to which TBD?
Section 5: Perceptions and Regulations
18. Do you think that TBD has become more common in your area in the last three years?

YesNo
19. Why do you think TBD in more comm in in your area?
20. In the past 12 months, my concern for TBD in my patients has increased.

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Strongly Disagree, 5 is Strongly Agree
21. In the past 12 months, my client’s concern for TBD in their animals has increased.

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Strongly Disagree, 5 is Strongly Agree

22. Which TBD, if any, should be reportable and receive attention (surveillance, management, regulations)? Write a number: 1= less, 2= the same, 3= more For example, when considering Anaplasma marginale, if you think there should be more surveillance, enter a “3” in the surveillance column. If you think there should be less surveillance, enter a “1” in that column, etc.

	Surveillance	Management	Reportable
Anaplasma marginale
Anaplasma sp. (other than A. marginale)
Babesia sp.
Borrelia burgdorferi
Ehrlichia sp.
Rickettsia sp.
Other (please state)

If you reported on "other above" please describe here.
Section 6: Comments:
23. Please enter any comments:
Should be Empty:

Tick-Borne Disease Survey for Manitoba Veterinary Professionals

Screening

Section 1: Tick ID

Section 2: Seasonality and Prevention of Tick Borne Disease(TBD)

7. In your opinion, how effective are the following tick prevention measures?

Section 3: Testing and Diagnosis

10. The following will ask about the number of individual cases in 2022. In the case of animals maintained in herds, please count a positive herd as one case.

12. How did you diagnose the following TBDs?

Section 4: Treatment and Vaccination

16. How did you treat the following TBDs?

Section 5: Perceptions and Regulations

Section 6: Comments: