Statewide passive tick surveillance using companion animals in Delaware reveals 9 tick species (Acari: Ixodidae) and 6 associated pathogens

This study was the first in Delaware to document and measure the specific tick-associated risks facing Delaware pets. These findings provide a baseline for tick-borne pathogen prevalence in ticks encountered by companion animals in Delaware and thus serve as a measure of those animals' exposure to various tick-associated infections, highlighting the continuing need for tick awareness and tick bite prevention.