– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension
The tick population in Ohio continues to raise concerns for our citizens. Ticks have been able to persist through our winters, the population is becoming more diverse, and they are contributing to concerns for human and animal health as time goes on. Ticks are vectors of disease, both for people and animals.
Lyme disease is on the rise and anaplasmosis is becoming a greater concern for livestock, both of which are transmitted by the blacklegged (deer) tick, which is very common in areas that are wooded. New ticks moving into our region carry other diseases that can be a concern. The lone star tick is becoming more common in Southern Ohio and can transit monocytic ehrlichiosis, southern tick associated rash illness, and tularemia. The American dog tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The Gulf Coast tick is working it’s way North and is a potential vector of rickettsia.
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis; ALHT) has been introduced to the United States and can now be found in Ohio. ALHT females can reproduce without mating and lay up to 2,000 eggs, which allows them to quickly establish large populations. They have been reported on more than two dozen species including sheep, goats, horses, cattle, chickens, dogs, cats, and humans. Among wildlife species, ALHT are most commonly reported on deer and raccoons. The Asian longhorned tick (which is present and proven in West Virginia and multiple Ohio Counties) is a vector of Theileria, a health concern for cattle, sheep, goat, and deer which causes anemia. Although ALHT has not been detected in Noble County yet, it has been confirmed in Monroe.
Considering the lay of our landscape and weather in Ohio, ticks are prevalent and are active all year round. Make tick checks a priority for your family, implement preventative measures for your pets, and keep watch for signs of disease among your livestock.
Learn more about tick diseases in Ohioline at: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-2073.
You may also enjoy this interview from 2019 before discovery in Ohio of ALHT with Dr. Tim McDermott about how to manage the risks of tick exposure.