An assessment of life history strategies for Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) on farms in eastern Tennessee

Monday, November 14, 2022

10:42 AM – 10:54 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 203

Presenting Author(s)

RB

Rebecca A. Butler

PhD Student
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee

Co-Author(s)

LM

L. Muller

University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
DP

David Paulsen

University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
JC

Jennifer Chandler

Research Specialist III
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
RT

Rebecca T. Trout Fryxell (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee

The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is a newly invasive tick species in the United States (US) found to transmit a variety of pathogens to human and animal hosts. Additionally, H. longicornis has an increased invasive potential due to its ability to reproduce by parthenogenesis and complete its life cycle in as little as six months. Unfortunately, due its recent emergence, the tick’s role in community structure, host utilization, and pathogen transmission in the US are relatively unknown. The goal of this study was to analyze relationships between H. longicornis with native tick species and wildlife hosts to establish feeding strategies and pathogen transmission on farms in eastern Tennessee. To do this we collected ticks from wildlife hosts in every season on angus farms infested with H. longicornis. Ticks were then screened for pathogens and logistic regression models were used to identify host and tick variables associated with the presence of H. longicornis. Results from this project will be presented.