Tick Testing Maps & Statistics for Ontario

Where were ticks submitted within Ontario from 2018-2025?

This interactive map displays where ticks were encountered and submitted to Geneticks from within Canada. Clicking on an individual tick entry will display the details associated with that submission, including micrographs of the sample. Each entry has been stripped of identifying information and the coordinates within a small area to protect user anonymity. The default display shows ticks that tested positive (Purple) and negative (Blue) for Borrelia species. Other pathogens can be visualized using the Pathogen Filter, whereas tick information can be toggled on and off using the Tick Data Filter, and temporal trends can be visualized using the Date Filter.

What pathogens have been found in blacklegged ticks submitted from within Ontario from 2020-2025?

Infection prevalence of Borrelia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Babesia odocoilei, and the Deer Tick Virus in Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus ticks submitted to Geneticks. This data excludes ticks of other genera and species.

What pathogens have been found in other Ixodes species ticks submitted from within Ontario from 2020-2025?

Infection prevalence of Borrelia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, and Babesia odocoilei in Ixodes cookei and Ixodes marxi ticks submitted to Geneticks. This data excludes ticks of other genera and species.

Ontario Health Unit Data

Infection prevalence of Borrelia species in Ixodes scapularis ticks submitted from public health regions in Ontario. Infection prevalence is calculated as the percentage of ticks submitted to Geneticks from each public health region that test positive for Borrelia species. Public health regions are excluded from this table if no ticks were submitted from with in their regional boundaries.

Tick Species Composition: 2018-2025

While the vast majority of all ticks submitted to Geneticks from within in Ontario are Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), Canadians are regularly encountering other tick species that have the potential to carry clinically relevant pathogens. Geneticks offers extensive testing options to detect these pathogens.

Species composition of ticks submitted to Geneticks. Ticks were visually identified according to the key provided in A Handbook of the Ticks of Canada (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Argasidae), and confirmed by molecular sequencing.

When were blacklegged ticks contacted in Ontario?

Distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus ticks submitted per month to Geneticks from across Ontario (2018-2025). This data excludes Ixodes scapularis and pacificus larvae ticks and ticks of other genera and species. 

When were groundhog ticks contacted in Ontario?

Distribution of Ixodes cookei ticks submitted per month to Geneticks from across Ontario (2018-2025). This data excludes Ixodes cookei larvae ticks and ticks of other genera and species.

When were dog ticks contacted in Ontario?

Distribution of Dermacentor variabilis and Dermacentor andersoni ticks submitted per month to Geneticks from across Ontario (2018-2025). This data excludes Dermacentor variabilis and andersoni nymph and larvae ticks and ticks of other genera and species. 

Risk activities distribution in Ontario?

Distribution of recorded risk activities from ticks submitted per month to Geneticks from across Ontario (2018-2025). “Passive Exposure” refers to ticks acquired without an explicitly defined activity (ie. “sitting outside” or “relaxing outdoors”)

Distribution of Dermacentor variabilis and Dermacentor andersoni ticks submitted per month to Geneticks from across Canada (2018-2024).This data excludes Dermacentor variabilis and andersoni nymph and larvae ticks and ticks of other genera and species. Click on the arrows to navigate between the graphs for Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

Key to Latin Names

Ticks

Bacteria

Provincial Tick Testing Data

Curious about data specific to your province of residence? Click on the provincial links below to learn more about the ticks submitted for testing in your region.