Surveys for ticks on wildlife hosts and in the environment at Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis)‐positive sites in Virginia and New Jersey, 2018

Abstract

Haemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick (ALT), is native to eastern Asia, but it has become invasive in several countries, including Australia, New Zealand and recently in the eastern United States (US). To identify wild mammal and avian host species in the US, we conducted active wildlife surveillance in two states with known ALT infestations (Virginia and New Jersey). In addition, we conducted environmental surveys in both states. These surveillance efforts resulted in detection of 51 ALTinfested individuals from seven wildlife species, including raccoon (Procyon lotor), Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), woodchuck (Marmota monax), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We found ALT in the environment in both states and also collected three native tick species (Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variablis and Ixodes scapularis) that are vectors of pathogens of public health and veterinary importance. This study provides important specific information on the wildlife host range of ALT in the US.

A two-year study on the phenology, host and habitat associations, and pathogens ofHaemaphysalis longicornisin Virginia, U.S.A.

“…Domestic cattle are also commonly important hosts for this tick, and they do occur on the property but were not sampled because they are regularly treated with an acaracide spray. Our detections of H. longicornis on eastern cottontail rabbits, raccoons, woodchucks, and Virginia opossums, support results previously reported from this area and New York that this tick can use a wide range of wildlife hosts (Tufts et al, 2020a, 2019; White et al, 2020). The sampling of coyotes and white-tailed deer was opportunistic, but previous detections of H. longicornis on these species have also been documented (Tufts et al, 2019; USDA-APHIS-VS, 2021; White et al, 2020).…”

“…Our trapping efforts were focused on rodent species and meso-mammals since previous reports suggest that raccoons and Virginia opossums might be important hosts for H. longicornis (Beard et al, 2018; Tufts et al, 2020a; White et al, 2020). One study in New York failed to find any infested Peromyscus spp.…”

“…Rodents and meso-mammals were trapped using methods as described (White et al, 2020). Briefly, Sherman box traps (H. B. Sherman Inc., Tallahassee, FL) baited with peanut butter cereal were used for rodents, and Havahart cage traps (Woodstream Corporation, Lititz, PA) baited with either canned dog food or sardines were used for meso-mammals such as Virginia opossums ( Didelphis virginiana ) and raccoons ( Procyon lotor ).…”

“…Recent molecular analysis indicates that at least three females of different lineages were introduced (Egizi et al, 2020). To date, H. longicornis has been detected in multiple states in the eastern United States and has been found on many different hosts species raising concerns for potential pathogen transmission between humans, domestic animals, and wildlife species (Beard et al, 2018; Duncan et al, 2020; Tufts et al, 2019; USDA-APHIS-VS, 2021; White et al, 2020).…”

Comparison of Habitat Suitability Models for Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann in North America to Determine Its Potential Geographic Range

“…All stages have been found on a variety of domestic animals including cattle, horses, and dogs [3]. Moreover, all stages of this tick have been collected from white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780), a widely distributed wildlife species [52], and a variety of other wildlife in the United States [53]. The wide host range of H. longicornis may facilitate dispersion over short and long distances.…”