Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have recently discovered the first longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) located in suburban St. Louis County.

Longhorned ticks pose a significant risk to livestock in Australia, New Zealand, and various eastern Asian nations. These ticks can inflict large infestations on a single animal, resulting in considerable stress and impairing growth and productivity. An intense infestation may even lead to the animal’s demise due to blood loss.

In collaboration with partners at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and St. Louis County, WashU researchers are actively monitoring the proliferation of longhorned ticks. Recently awarded funding will assist in the examination of longhorned ticks within the area.

The longhorned tick recently discovered in St. Louis County was collected and classified by a WashU undergraduate researcher, Sam Ko, at Tyson Research Center, WashU’s ecological field site, located near Eureka, Missouri.

“We have only located one longhorned tick in St. Louis County to date, but it is probable that many more exist,” remarked Solny Adalsteinsson, a lead scientist at Tyson Research Center, who heads the center’s tick and wildlife ecology research team.

The inaugural longhorned tick documented in the state was collected in May 2021. Since that time, only a few additional reports have surfaced; all five verified sightings prior to this recent find occurred in rural counties.

Longhorned ticks are light brown and quite diminutive, roughly the size of a sesame seed. Due to their small dimensions, cattle and other livestock could potentially harbor thousands of longhorned ticks. In different nations, longhorned ticks have been documented as carriers of diseases affecting both livestock and humans.

“A remarkable fact about longhorned ticks is their ability to reproduce without mating. Just a single female is sufficient to create a new population,” Adalsteinsson stated.

Enhancing tick collection initiatives

This spring, WashU researchers are broadening their tick collection activities to gain further insights into the establishment and ecology of longhorned ticks in the region — as well as their potential to transmit indigenous pathogens — supported by a Transcend Initiative Grant award from WashU’s “Here and Next” Seed Grant program to Adalsteinsson; Jacco Boon, a professor specializing in medicine, molecular microbiology, and pathology & immunology at WashU Medicine; Michael Landis, an assistant professor of biology in Arts & Sciences; and Susan Flowers at Tyson Research Center.

The team will also coordinate with St. Louis County on its initiative to collect and classify ticks via its community science project Tick Watch STL.

“We commenced the acceptance of tick submissions in April 2024,” stated J. Brooke Dedrick, a specialist in vector-borne disease prevention within St. Louis County’s Department of Public Health. “Residents can either mail us ticks or deposit them in drop boxes (available throughout the county) for identification. A collection form is provided to indicate the location of tick collection. This data allows us to pinpoint areas of interest, enabling targeted tick surveillance.”

In addition to Adalsteinsson sharing tick collection data with the county, Boon and Whitney Anthonysamy, at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP), will analyze ticks submitted to Tick Watch STL for viral and bacterial pathogens, respectively. Anthonysamy’s research is funded by a Faculty Research Incentive Fund Award from UHSP.

The county has also created a public data dashboard for the Tick Watch STL project featuring a tick collection map with comprehensive information regarding ticks collected by residents, along with those from county surveillance operations. “We aim to empower residents with the necessary tools for making informed decisions and to assure them that we are available to address any questions or provide support,” Dedrick stated.

Adalsteinsson and Dedrick point out that even though February and March are months when tick activity is minimal, local residents can still take measures to lower their risk of tick exposure.

“By increasing awareness, we aspire to empower individuals to adopt strategies to prevent tick bites, such as applying repellents, treating clothing with permethrin, conducting regular tick checks, and practicing habitat management,” Dedrick mentioned.

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