Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-17-2024

Abstract

Ticks transmit a wide variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and helminths to vertebrates. Their life cycle depends on blood meals from various hosts as well as environmental conditions such as the temperature and habitat type. With climatic changes, the expansion of tick habitat creates a need for annual surveillance of ticks and periodic update of geographic distribution maps. The present study conducted tick surveillance using flag-drag technique in both Crawford County and Anderson County, Kansas as well as ticks collected from a veterinary clinic in Crawford Co. during March-August 2023. Locations surveyed in Crawford Co. were a mined land area, recreational park, and a farm. Surveillance in Anderson Co. was conducted in recreational areas. Environmental data (temperature, humidity, etc.) were collected on-site at each visit. Collected ticks were identified in the laboratory using taxonomic keys at the species level and differentiated by sex and life stages. A total of 499 adult and nymph ticks were collected, the majority identified as Amblyomma americanum (90.4%, Males-204, Females-173, Nymphs-74) and a significant number identified as Dermacentor variabilis (9.6%, Males-25, Females-23). More than one species of Amblyomma were identified from the vet clinic. Identified ticks are being pooled and tested for selected bacterial pathogens using real-time PCR. The outcome of this study will help our Kansas State agency in updating the geographic distribution map of ticks in Kansas. Knowledge of pathogens carried by this tick population will assist in management programs and efforts to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases.

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