Tick species establishment in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, U.S.A., identified by seasonal sampling in residential and non‐residential sites

Abstract

In recent years, human tick‐borne disease occurrence has risen in Oklahoma, U.S.A., but year‐round data on tick presence in frequently used recreational areas is not widely available. In this study, ticks were collected monthly for one year at residential and non‐residential sites in a suburban area of Oklahoma County, OK, U.S.A. At each trapping site, dry ice traps were used in both woodland and grassland areas and fabric tick drags were used in grassland areas. Four species were collected from each park: Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. Prior to this study, A. americanum was the only species with an established population in Oklahoma County. Consistent with this, A. americanum was collected in all months of the year and accounted for over 90% of ticks collected at each site. Based on our tick survey, we report that A. maculatum, D. variabilis, and I. scapularis, which were each collected in numbers greater than six within a single sampling occasion, are now each confirmed as established populations in Oklahoma County.

Diversity and seasonality of host-seeking ticks in a periurban environment in the Central Midwest (USA)

“…The questing activity of the three predominant tick species peaked once during the spring and summer months of each of the study year (Figs 4-6), and a distinct unimodal phenology for all life-stages and tick species is clearly evident. This finding is similar to Small et al [13], wherein a unimodal distribution for A. americanum, D. variabilis and I. scapularis were found. However, their study was conducted over a single 12-month period and ticks were largely collected using CO 2 traps and therefore any comparisons during the interannual periods cannot be made.…”

“…However, the types of ticks prevalent in the area and their activity periods was not fully known. Questing tick species diversity noted in this study is consistent with other studies conducted over the years in this broad region [13,19,20,[35][36][37] although, the number of A. maculatum adults collected in the present study is higher than previously reported from areas closer to the study site [23,37].…”

“…available. A recent study in Oklahoma by Small et al [13], continuously collected ticks from two habitats each month between July 2016 through July 2017 wherein the seasonality of three tick species is reported. Rynkiewicz and Clay [14] documented tick species composition and seasonality in several sites in the state of Indiana, also in the Midwestern region.…”

“…Small et al (2019) [13] Free-living A. americanum, D. variabilis, A. maculatum, I. scapularis Oklahoma Hahn et al (2019) [28] Host attached, freeliving I. scapularis Northeast Missouri https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250272.t001…”

Local and regional temporal trends (2013–2019) of canine Ehrlichia spp. seroprevalence in the USA

“…Furthermore, risk of exposure is impacted by changes in the interface between developed and undeveloped landscapes, such as occurs in suburban areas. Populations of A. americanum can also be found in planned green spaces within the urban environment [42] and in residential suburban areas [43]. As dogs move with their owners in and out of these areas, their risk of exposure to ticks may change.…”