One Health genomic surveillance of ticks found on community-dwelling non-human ‘farm’ animals to identify microbes associated with tick borne illnesses in Eastern Ontario

Companion animals, such as dogs and cats, and wildlife are recognized as sentinel species in One Health surveillance due to periodic exposure to ticks and infection by tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). Surveillance of this type is a strategy that captures a broad range of genetic, immunological, and behavioral factors that affect tick and disease dynamics. In contrast, non-human animals (hereafter referred to as ‘animals’) that are traditionally farmed for their meat and other products have been largely overlooked as sentinel species. Community-dwelling farm sanctuary residents, such as cattle, pigs, horses, and other traditionally ‘farmed’ animals have close daily contact with human caregivers, making them excellent candidates for One Health surveillance. These animals, often free-range in pastures and/or woodlands, bridging the territory inhabited by wildlife and that occupied by humans. This study collected 67 ticks, from bovines (n = 22), equines (n = 35) and canines (n = 6) residing in a farm animal sanctuary and screened them for microbes associated with tick borne illnesses using 16S rRNA V4 amplicon targeted sequencing (515F/906R) with custom Rickettsia buchneri blocking primers to boost sensitivity. Only 60 ticks were viable for analysis, 59 were of Ixodes species and one was Dermacentor variabilis. Of these, 31.6% (n = 19) tested positive for potential pathogens, including 21.6% (n = 13) for the causative agent of Lyme disease ( Borrelia burgdorferi ) and 15% (n = 9) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum , with a co-infection rate of five percent (n = 3). Utilizing community dwelling sanctuary residents allowed us to detect potential threats to both animal and human health and was instrumental in the rapid diagnosis of anaplasmosis in two study participants (a horse and a pony) who showed symptoms of lethargy and inappetence after being bitten by ticks.