is ALT’s possible transmission of Theileria, which impacts livestock, and Heartland virus, which can affect humans. But, just because ALT can carry the microorganism doesn’t necessarily make them a vector component-in fact, a recent study showed that ALT cannot transmit Borrelia burgdorferi. The Asian longhorned tick has the potential to carry several medical and veterinary disease organisms, including Anaplasma, Babesia, Borrelia, Ehrlichia (the causal agents of anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis, respectively), as well as Powassan virus. (Photo originally published in Schappach et al 2020, Journal of Integrated Pest Management) Asian longhorned ticks ( Haemaphysalis longicornis) can often be found questing in clusters on tall grass (A and B), and a cluster will commonly “explode” when something brushes against them, such as a host animal or human or, in this photo, a drag cloth used for monitoring for the ticks’ presence. While this is a fascinating biological trait, it’s also an unfortunate one in that even a single female can start a new population. This species is largely parthenogenic, meaning males aren’t required for females to produce viable eggs-in fact, only one male has been found in the U.S. ![]() Models suggest that ALT would thrive in much of North America. Temperature and humidity are very influential in ALT’s ability to thrive-colder and drier conditions tend to limit ALT populations, while warm and humid conditions contribute to more rapid population growth and increased activity. ALT feeds on a wide range of hosts, but seems to prefer larger mammals such as sheep, horses, and cows. Native to China, Japan, the Koreas, and the Russian Far East, ALT is currently found in several eastern U.S. What we know so far about ALT is outlined by the Tick Team at Western Connecticut State University’s Tick Lab, led by Neeta Connally, Ph.D., in an article published in October in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management. since at least 2010! While we’ll likely never know exactly how this new invasive species got here, these findings served as the impetus to understand the biology, ecology, and potential impacts of ALT on U.S. Because this tick looks very similar to other Haemaphysalis ticks in the U.S., scientists did some digging and found that this tick had, in fact, been present in the U.S. Normally, that’s not a big deal (mammals get ticks all the time), but this was no ordinary tick-it turned out to be the Asian longhorned tick (ALT, Haemaphysalis longicornis), which was new to the U.S. ![]() In 2017, a tick was found on a sheep on a New Jersey farm. (Photo by James Gathany, CDC Public Health Image Library) Shown here are a nymph (left) and adult female. ![]() A new guide in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management outlines the different management strategies that are being developed, and surveillance and prevention are key to reducing this non-native arthropod’s impact. in 2017, and it poses health threats to both animals and humans. The Asian longhorned tick ( Haemaphysalis longicornis) was discovered in the U.S.
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