Tick ID Workshop

Overview:

The expanding range and prevalence of ticks in Ontario, particularly the black-legged tick, pose increasing risks of tick-borne infections and encounters with humans. Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health, in partnership with the University of Guelph, will be organizing a Tick Identification Workshop to support public health professionals with passive and active surveillance initiatives.

Objectives:

Faster Surveillance: Equip participants with the skills for faster turnaround times in passive surveillance efforts.

Enhanced Active Surveillance: Provide Public Health Units with in-house expertise in identifying ticks during active surveillance.

Risk Assessment: Enable participants to assess the health risks associated with different tick species.

Long-term Monitoring: Empower PHUs to track and survey tick activity over time and tailor educational efforts accordingly.

Workshop Content:

Participants will learn to identify male and female adults, nymphs, and larval stages of common tick species in western, southern, and eastern Ontario:

American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei)

Squirrel tick (Ixodes marxi)

Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum)

Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

Logistics:

Each workshop session will accommodate approximately 25 participants.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch.

Handouts and resources will be provided.

If the courses reach capacity and there’s sufficient demand, an additional workshop may be scheduled for Friday June 14th, 2024. Please reach out to Amanda Waechter at amanda.waechter@wdgpublichealth.ca to be added to the waiting list, and we’ll get in touch with you.

Join us in equipping our communities with the knowledge and skills to combat the growing threat of tick-borne illnesses in Ontario