• ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspective
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 LIVE!™
Insights
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Client Handouts
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Coverage
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2022 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2022 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Dangerous new tick species migrating to North America

February 28, 2019
dvm360, dvm360 April 2019, Volume 50, Issue 4

Researchers predict widespread invasion of a tick species in the United States and neighboring countries, posing a significant threat to public health and livestock.

Dr. Ram Raghavan, a spatial epidemiologist at Kansas State University, collects longhorned ticks near Queensland, Australia, where he spent a month studying the natural habitats and wildlife hosts of longhorned ticks. Of the nearly 900 tick species found around the world, about 90 make their home in the United States. Now, a new international report indicates that another species has joined the group and is on the move throughout North America.

According to spatial epidemiologist Ram Raghavan, BSc, MS, PhD, an assistant professor at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and lead author of the report, invasive populations of Haemaphysalis longicornis-longhorned ticks-are expected to become established in many parts of the North America.

Where are the danger zones?

Indeed, the invasion has already begun, with the species newly discovered in many U.S. states, including New Jersey, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Arkansas.

The Asian longhorned tick.

Using multiple spatial distribution models, Dr. Raghavan and his team evaluated the likelihood of this dangerous tick migrating to other areas of the continent.

“We have identified vast areas of North America, particularly the southeastern U.S., the West Coast and broad areas of the northwestern U.S., as well as central and southern Mexico, as climatically suitable for establishment of this species,” says Dr. Raghaven in a K-State press release.

Native to Japan, China, Korea and the Primorsky Krai region of eastern Russia, the species has so far become well established in Australia, New Zealand and on several Pacific Islands. Female longhorned ticks can reproduce asexually-a rare trait that allows for rapid population spread-and the species can thrive under diverse climatic conditions.

Data from the CDC indicate that tickborne disease in humans is on the rise in the United States, with the reported prevalence increasing by nearly 20 percent between 2016 and 2017. Although the longhorned tick is currently considered largely a livestock pest (it has been implicated in the transmission of theileriosis to cattle), it has been known to parasitize humans as well, causing severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome as well as other diseases.

What would an invasion mean?

According to Stephen Barker, BSc, PhD, parasitologist and professor at the University of Queensland and a study coauthor, widespread invasion of H. longicornis in the United States “would carry a significant economic burden and potential human suffering, especially since this tick is capable of transmitting a variety of pathogens such as those cause Lyme disease and others.”

Tick migration is facilitated greatly by travel, with livestock, dogs and people all potential unwitting carriers. “We feel that there is a need for strict inspection and quarantine of cattle, other livestock and pet animals, particularly dogs, about to be transported from the current focus areas of this tick,” Dr. Raghavan says. “High levels of interstate movement of livestock and other animals occur each day. Cattle are moved slowly across the nation, stopping at multiple places-potentially dropping off female ticks. The movement of ticks via livestock and other domestic animals is not currently monitored or regulated, so it is only a matter of time, in our opinion, that this species will spread further in North America.”

download issueDownload Issue: dvm360 April 2019

Related Content:

MedicalBreaking NewsParasitologyEducationdvm360 April 2019
Canine and feline autoimmune dermatological diseases
Canine and feline autoimmune dermatological diseases
UC Davis spearheads formation of Nephrology and Urology Specialty College
UC Davis spearheads formation of Nephrology and Urology Specialty College
Further research needed in veterinary cannabis realm
Further research needed in veterinary cannabis realm

Latest News

Louisville Zoo welcomes baby zebra

Euthanasia attendants in modern practice

Earlier dermatology referral rewards primary care practice (part 1): easing client expenses and enhancing patient care

UC Davis spearheads formation of Nephrology and Urology Specialty College

View More Latest News