Distribution of ticks and tick-borne disease in Southeast Kansas public recreational parks
Category
Sciences and Technology
Department
Biology
Student Status
Graduate
Research Advisor
Dr. Anuradha Ghosh
Document Type
Event
Location
Governors
Start Date
10-4-2025 8:30 AM
End Date
10-4-2025 8:50 AM
Description
The distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases is not well-documented in southeast Kansas despite bordering one of the greatest hotspots for disease in the United States. The range and distribution of ticks has been changing over the past century because of anthropogenic factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and overabundance of white-tailed deer. Two public recreational parks with heavy human and pet traffic in Crawford County, Kansas were sampled to determine which ticks are present in the months of greatest activity. Ticks were collected using a flagging technique that promoted only collecting questing ticks. A total of 436 lone star ticks were the dominant tick species across both collection sites (90.5%, Males-202, Females-164, Nymphs-70). A total of 46 American dog ticks were also detected across both sites (9.5%, Males-24, Females-22). After grouping ticks into pools, both species of ticks were found to be carrying ehrlichiosis pathogens, with unusually high rates of E. ewingii detected in lone star tick pools (E. chaffeensis 12.9%, E. ewingii 21.0%). American dog tick pools carried a lower proportion of only E. ewingii (12.5%). Rickettsia spp., which could include pathogenic spotted fever rickettsiae, were also detected in both ticks (Lone star: 68.8% of pools; American dog: 18.5%). This data should be used to update public resources and better prepare local health departments. Continuing to monitor tick distribution and pathogen load will be vital as their range keeps changing.
Distribution of ticks and tick-borne disease in Southeast Kansas public recreational parks
Governors
The distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases is not well-documented in southeast Kansas despite bordering one of the greatest hotspots for disease in the United States. The range and distribution of ticks has been changing over the past century because of anthropogenic factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and overabundance of white-tailed deer. Two public recreational parks with heavy human and pet traffic in Crawford County, Kansas were sampled to determine which ticks are present in the months of greatest activity. Ticks were collected using a flagging technique that promoted only collecting questing ticks. A total of 436 lone star ticks were the dominant tick species across both collection sites (90.5%, Males-202, Females-164, Nymphs-70). A total of 46 American dog ticks were also detected across both sites (9.5%, Males-24, Females-22). After grouping ticks into pools, both species of ticks were found to be carrying ehrlichiosis pathogens, with unusually high rates of E. ewingii detected in lone star tick pools (E. chaffeensis 12.9%, E. ewingii 21.0%). American dog tick pools carried a lower proportion of only E. ewingii (12.5%). Rickettsia spp., which could include pathogenic spotted fever rickettsiae, were also detected in both ticks (Lone star: 68.8% of pools; American dog: 18.5%). This data should be used to update public resources and better prepare local health departments. Continuing to monitor tick distribution and pathogen load will be vital as their range keeps changing.
