Latest news with #AsianLonghornedTick
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Health officials issue urgent warning after discovering first case of deadly bacteria carried by tick in US: 'Raising public awareness … is critical'
Researchers in Connecticut have identified a dangerous pathogen carried by a rapidly spreading, invasive species of tick, Patch reported. The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is considered invasive in the United States, with initial sightings recorded in 2010, 2013, and 2017. Many tick species pose a risk to human health because of their efficacy in spreading disease, particularly bloodborne illnesses such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis. That third pathogen is the one found by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. According to NBC Connecticut, an Asian longhorned tick that tested positive for the bacterium responsible for ehrlichiosis "was found in Fairfield County sometime between 2021 and now." "This discovery highlights the growing threat posed by invasive ticks," CAES Passive Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance Program Director Goudarz Molaei said. "Raising public awareness of emerging tick-borne illnesses is critical to both human and veterinary health." Tickborne disease has been on the rise for decades. "As typically colder and drier climates become warmer and wetter, there has been an expansion of ticks in the northern hemisphere and at higher altitudes where they were previously unable to survive," a Pfizer advisory cautioned. Scientists say rising temperatures and volatile weather patterns are driving their incursions into new areas, as a study published in Scientific Reports in January evidenced. Because the Asian longhorned tick is a relative newcomer to the U.S., researchers are still working to determine the gravity of the risk it poses to both humans and animals. Researcher Risa Pesapane co-authored a paper about the species and its effect on livestock, citing the deaths of three head of cattle in Oklahoma in 2021. Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites? Absolutely Only when I'm camping or hiking Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "To have been taken down by exsanguination by ticks, you can imagine that was tens of thousands of ticks on one animal," she explained. At first glance, the worrisome proliferation of disease-spreading ticks seems insurmountable — but there are ways to reduce your risk of tick encounters and tick-related illnesses. Chemical-free pest control methods are one way to avoid tick bites, and the Global Lyme Alliance recommends "products that use picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus" as effective deterrents on par with chemical pesticides. Surprisingly, rewilding your yard may be another way to reduce the risk of encountering ticks, according to the David Suzuki Foundation. "A growing body of ecological evidence … shows that replacing lawns with native plant gardens can disrupt tick-host interactions and reduce tick-borne disease risk, while also restoring biodiversity," the Foundation wrote. Pesapane urged a multifaceted strategy for tick mitigation. "For a variety of reasons, I tell people you cannot spray your way out of an Asian longhorned tick infestation — it will require an integrated approach," she explained. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
OSU researching Asian Longhorned Tick that can be deadly for cattle
STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR) — A heads up for cattle producers, there's a deadly tick in the United States, and researchers at Oklahoma State University are concerned. Last year, a case was found in the Eastern part of the state. 'These ticks can be so high on a single cow that they can actually result in so much blood loss that the animal can die from that,' said Dr. Jonathan Cammack, Assistant Professor at OSU and State Extension Specialist for Livestock, Entomology, and Parasitology. Dr. Jonathan Cammack said the Asian Longhorned Tick, also known ALT is native to East Asia. It was first seen in the U.S. a decade ago, and in Oklahoma last year when it was discovered on cattle in Craig County. LOCAL NEWS: Neighbors blame school construction for ongoing drainage crisis 'It's not going to have that bright white spot on it like a lone star. And they're also going to be very small, about half the size of the normal tick that we're usually expecting to see at this time of year,' said Dr. Cammack. They're also concerned with how fast the ticks can reproduce. 'They can reproduce asexually so they don't have that added challenge of locating a mate in the environment,' said Dr. Cammack. Which means a female can lay up to 2,500 eggs on one animal and that can consume enough blood to be deadly. Now, they're hoping research can help with ideas to slow or stop the spread. 'There's a project going on at the vet school where they're collecting ticks that are suspected to be Asian Longhorned Ticks, and then they're testing them for the presence of this pathogen,' said Dr. Cammack. The pathogen they're testing for is the Theileria orientalis Ikeda genotype. This year, the team is looking for new cases of the tick, and they hope ranchers will help them with surveillance. LOCAL NEWS: 'He just stabbed me': New video shows Edmond officer stabbed during traffic stop 'It's just kind of, you know, being in tune with your animals, checking on them regularly, you know, not like you're saying every day, but you know, not also once a year either,' said Dr. Cammack. While they haven't seen any new cases in our state so far this year, the tick and pathogen are present in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas. If you see it on your cattle, call your local veterinarian or a local OSU Extension office so they can collect the ticks and get them tested. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
