Rapid Discovery and Detection of Haemaphysalis longicornis through the Use of Passive Surveillance and Collaboration: Building a State Tick-Surveillance Network

Abstract

Between March 2019 and February 2020, Asian long-horned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, 1901) were discovered and collected for the first time in one middle and seven eastern Tennessee counties, facilitated by a newly developed passive and collaborative tick-surveillance network. Network collaborators included federal, state, county, university, and private resource personnel working with companion animals, livestock, and wildlife. Specimens were collected primarily from dogs and cattle, with initial detections of female adult stage ticks by stakeholders associated with parasitology positions (e.g., entomologists and veterinary parasitologists). Initial county tick detections were confirmed with morphological and molecular identifications, and then screened for the presence of animal-associated pathogens (Anaplasma marginale, Babesia species, Ehrlichia species, and Theileria orientalis), for which all tests were negative. Herein, we describe the identification and confirmation of these tick specimens as well as other results of the surveillance collaboration.

All for One Health and One Health for All: Considerations for Successful Citizen Science Projects Conducting Vector Surveillance from Animal Hosts

“…Ectoparasite collection was typically conducted when the citizen scientists interacted with the animal as part of their clientele (e.g., during a veterinary checkup or bringing stray animals into a shelter). To assist with vector collections, citizen scientists were either sent collection kits and materials [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] or exclusively given instructions via email, print material, or project website [ 18 , 19 , 20 ] on procedures to collect, preserve, and send specimens to researchers. When considering whether to send collection kits to citizen scientists, researchers should consider the cost to mail and receive the kits, whether special chemicals for specimen or pathogen preservation are required, and how differences in preservation or submission could affect the specimen or pathogen status.…”

“…This is especially useful when considering invasive vectors that are introduced into new geographic regions. For example, Duncan et al [ 13 ] and Trout-Fryxell et al [ 15 ] relied on communication and action of this citizen scientist group to detect and track the spread of the invasive Asian long-horned tick ( Hamephysalis longicornis ), which was first reported in the U.S. in 2017 [ 39 ]. A similar program was also conducted in Michigan with I. scapularis and the causative agent of Lyme disease Borrelia burgdorferi , where citizen scientists, including those with professional access to companion animals, were asked to submit samples to develop a comprehensive distribution of the tick and bacterium throughout the state [ 40 ].…”

“…Working with this stakeholder group, researchers utilized a variety of methods to passively sample ectoparasites, including using collection kits that were available through different avenues (available for pickup/drop off at researcher/Extension offices or sent to citizen scientists), submitting specimens to a research laboratory or institution, and submitting photos to a website or mobile device application. Unlike those who had occupations working with animals, only two studies that targeted animal owners utilized pre-made collection kits [ 15 , 24 ]. Instead, the majority of studies that involved animal owners advertised their studies online using a dedicated project website and/or outreach to recruit citizen scientists [ 18 , 37 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ].…”

Monitoring Trends in Distribution and Seasonality of Medically Important Ticks in North America Using Online Crowdsourced Records from iNaturalist

“…Passive surveillance systems, in which tick specimens found on humans and animals are submitted to researchers by members of the public or veterinary and medical practices, have contributed significantly to knowledge of tick distribution, seasonal activity, host associations, and pathogen infection prevalence in North America, and can act as early warning systems for the introduction, establishment, and expansion of species of public health or veterinary concern [ 19 , 24 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. Results from passive tick surveillance have been demonstrated to correlate well with the distribution of tick-borne diseases [ 7 , 29 , 45 , 52 , 53 , 54 ] and tick abundance from active surveillance [ 55 ].…”

The wild life of ticks: using passive surveillance to determine the distribution and wildlife host range of ticks and the exoticHaemaphysalis longicornis, 2010-2021

“…Currently published surveillance studies for H. longicornis in the U.S. are limited geographically and as a result are unlikely to capture the potential wildlife host range utilized by H. longicornis [35,40,41,[43][44][45]. In addition, habitat suitability models primarily focusing on climatic and geographic variables to predict the potential range of H. longicornis have been reported, but they were built around limited datasets of H. longicornis occurrences (rather than established population data) and therefore may not accurately depict all suitable habitats in the U.S. [46][47][48].…”