Ticks are a type of parasite that sometimes carry germs that can cause disease in humans and animals. They attach to and feed on these warm-blooded hosts. In Quebec, there are about a dozen types of ticks documented. Ticks are commonly found in and near forested or wooded areas, tall grasses or piles of leaves.
Different types of ticks can be carriers of disease, but not all tick bites lead to disease. Blacklegged ticks, also known as Ixodes scapularis or deer ticks, are the only known vector of Lyme disease in Quebec.
Lyme is a bacterial infection that spreads after an infected tick bite. Both humans and animals can get infected with Lyme. Prevention, early detection and treatment are key to reduce long-term effects of a Lyme infection.
Ticks are a type of parasite that feed on warm-blooded hosts. In Quebec, at least a dozen (12) types of ticks have been documented.
Ticks live in and near forested or wooded areas, shrubs, in tall grasses or piles of leaves.
Not all types of ticks carry Lyme disease. Blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks or Ixodes scapularis) are the only known vector of Lyme in Quebec.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by infected tick bites. Infected ticks carry a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. They can pass it on to human or animals after biting them and latching on for at least 24 hours.
Even though pets can’t spread Lyme disease directly to humans, they can carry infected ticks into your home or yard.
Lyme disease does not spread to humans directly from pets or wild animals. You can’t catch Lyme from eating meat harvested from an infected animal.
People and animals can be infected with Lyme disease anywhere in Quebec. The risk is much higher in regions where infected ticks are established (endemic). These regions include Southern Quebec, Montreal, the Eastern Townships, Mauricie and Centre-du-Quebec, southwest Outaouais.
The risk of Lyme disease in Eeyou Istchee is low.
In Northern Quebec and Eeyou Istchee, tick populations are present but there are no established black-legged tick populations in the region.
Blacklegged ticks carrying Lyme disease can however travel from the South on migratory birds or dogs and pose a risk for bites that may lead to infection.
The risk of Lyme disease in Eeyou Istchee remains low.
Common symptoms appear 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. Human symptoms include:
Not all symptoms appear when there’s an infection, especially the rash.
More severe symptoms can develop weeks or month after an untreated tick bite, including:
Pet symptoms include:
Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, a history of tick exposure and sometimes a blood test. It’s treated with antibiotics.
If you find a latched tick on your body, it’s important to tell your healthcare provider the following:
If you find a tick latched on yourself or someone else, try to identify it, remove it, and go the clinic.
If you find a tick latched on your pet, contact your Animal Control Officer.
To remove a tick:
What NOT to do when removing ticks
- Don’t remove ticks with your fingers
- Don’t burn it with a lighter
- Don’t rotate the tick with tweezers
- Don’t use products to remove ticks (nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, Vaseline, etc…).
When spending time outdoors, especially in tick habitats, the following precautions will help protect against Lyme disease.
Regular tick checks and prompt tick removal are just as important for pets as for people.
This health tip is adapted from Public Health Canada and l’Institut national de santé publique du Québec.
