The emergence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever epidemics in Arizona and northern Mexico in the last two decades has highlighted the critical need for tick-borne pathogen surveillance in the southwestern United States. The Border Tick Rickettsia Surveillance Program (BiTeRS) was created through the Pacific Southwest Center of Excellence in response to a CDC call to develop a program to enhance regional tick and tick-borne disease knowledge and preparedness. BiTeRS is a collaboration between University of California, Davis, University of Arizona, and a network of 20 partner organizations. Partner organizations include tribal governments, animal services, public health agencies, and parks. The goal of the program is to engage partners in tick surveillance while simultaneously addressing needs related to tick and tick-borne disease, and expanding knowledge of and capacity to recognize and respond to tick-borne disease threats. Partners receive customized training and resources, as well as assistance with surveillance. Ticks that are collected are identified and tested for pathogens, with results returned to partners. In the first year of the program, six tick species positive for at least five rickettsial species were identified. Partners received a range of training opportunities and resources, from tick identification to management courses to dog vaccination and preventive care clinics. This program serves a model for a partner and community oriented surveillance system that enhances both outreach and capacity for tick-borne disease surveillance.
