The United States agricultural community is facing a growing threat that could have severe implications for the nation’s livestock industry. An invasive species, known as the Asian longhorned tick, has been rapidly expanding its presence across the country. This tiny yet formidable pest poses a serious risk to animals, with the potential to cause significant harm to the cattle population.
First identified in the U.S. in 2017, the Asian longhorned tick has since been reported in 19 states. The speed at which this tick has spread is alarming and indicates an urgent need for effective control measures. The tick’s ability to reproduce asexually allows a single female to lay up to 2,000 eggs without mating, leading to explosive population growth in infested areas.
🚨New: The CDC warns that an invasive Asian Cow-Killing Tick is rapidly spreading throughout America. pic.twitter.com/VGnOshjvnt
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) December 26, 2023
The impact of these ticks on livestock cannot be overstated. There have been reports of cattle being swarmed by these parasites, suffering tens of thousands of bites, and ultimately dying from exsanguination—being drained of blood. Such incidents underscore the tick’s nickname as the ‘cow-killing’ tick and highlight the dire consequences of its proliferation.
Despite their diminutive size, comparable to a sesame seed, these ticks can form massive colonies swiftly. Researchers from Ohio State University collected nearly 10,000 ticks in just 90 minutes from a 25-acre pasture, estimating over a million ticks could be present in the entire field. No other tick species in North America is known to populate at such an astonishing rate.
Cows are so cute and probably will be killed by an Asian Tick that somehow made it into the US and is killing cows. That is not obviously suspicious at all. pic.twitter.com/gwkWFkztqB
— Lisa Ramsey/PaulaRevere1776 Part II (@LisaRam59264503) December 26, 2023
While the primary concern is for animal health, there is also the potential for disease transmission to humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted that while the Asian longhorned tick prefers animal hosts, it can be found on humans and is capable of carrying and spreading certain diseases if they come into contact with them. Fortunately, the tick is not currently associated with the spread of Lyme disease in the U.S., according to one experimental study.
The situation is being closely monitored by researchers and public health officials. Studies are ongoing to better understand the full extent of the tick’s pervasiveness and the risks it poses to both livestock and human populations. It remains a possibility that the tick in the U.S. may not carry the same pathogens as it does in other parts of the world, but vigilance is key.
States that have reported the presence of the Asian longhorned tick include Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The widespread nature of these reports indicates that this is a national issue requiring coordinated efforts to address.
The agricultural community, along with state and federal agencies, must remain proactive in combating this invasive species. Research into prevention and eradication methods is critical, as is educating farmers and the public about how to identify and manage tick populations. The continued spread of the Asian longhorned tick represents a clear and present danger to the U.S. livestock industry, and concerted action is necessary to protect the nation’s agricultural interests and public health.
