As of February 7, 2020, long-horned ticks have been found in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. In August, researchers found these parasites in Ohio as well. This shows that they multiply very quickly so they appear in more places in less time.
Asian long-horned ticks have been found on pets, livestock, wildlife, and people. Thousands of ticks may be found at a time in grass or shrubs or on an animal. Compared with well-known ticks such as the black-legged tick, lone star tick, and American dog tick, the Asian long-horned tick appears to be less attracted to human skin. ODA says they are very small, often smaller than a sesame seed. "They are difficult to detect due to their size and quick movement. They are known to carry pathogens, which can cause disease in humans and livestock, and may also cause distress to the host from their feeding in large numbers."
“Due to the nature of this pest, the female ticks can reproduce without a male, so it only takes one tick to create an established population in a new location,” said ODA State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey. “This pest is especially fatal to livestock, so producers should practice preventative measures and be on the lookout for this new threat.”
With ongoing testing of ticks collected in the United States, it is likely that some ticks will be found to contain germs that can be harmful to people. However, we do not yet know if and how often these ticks are able to pass these germs along to people and make them ill. One recent experimental study found that this tick is not likely to contribute to the spread of Lyme disease bacteria in the United States. Another laboratory study found that this tick could carry and spread the bacteria that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The germs that cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever have not yet been found in these ticks in nature. Research is ongoing. That is why doctors say prevention is more important than ever.
If you see a tick attached to your skin, don’t panic!
- Find a tweezer for the removal.
- Grab the tick very close to the skin. Don’t squeeze it, because it can transmit the bacteria like this.
- Gently pull out the parasite and keep your eye on the place of the bite.
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Sources:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/longhorned-tick/index.html
[1] Ohio Department of Agriculture