Lone Star Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) Occurrence in Nebraska: Historical and Current Perspectives

Abstract

In 2010 and 2011, field collections were undertaken to determine the geographic range of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), in Nebraska In addition, tick identifications from submissions by the general public dating to 1911 were examined. Consistent lone star tick identifications from extreme southeast Nebraska began in 1987. Specimens have been identified from 27 counties, making lone star ticks the second most frequently and second most widely reported tick in the state after Dermacentor variabilis (Say). Surveys conducted in 70 sites in 43 counties yielded 2,169 ticks of which 1,035 were lone star ticks. Lone star ticks were more frequent in the southeast portion of the state and ticks were found in nine counties from which there were no known submissions. Life stage peaks observed during the surveys corresponded with those observed from submissions. Other ticks, incidental to the study, were also collected. Woody plant expansion into the tallgrass prairie, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virgianianus L.) and wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo L.) population growth, and the increased frequency of milder winters may be facilitating lone star tick occurrence in the region. Further studies will assess lone star tick establishment and disease pathogen prevalence in the state.

“Rickettsia amblyommii” Induces Cross Protection Against Lethal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in a Guinea Pig Model

“…Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, is an increasingly prevalent tick with a distribution that appears to be spreading northward (Ginsberg et al 1991, Keirans and Lacombe 1998, Cortinas and Spomer 2013. A. americanum is a relatively nondiscriminating feeder that aggressively bites humans.…”

Occurrence and County-Level Distribution of Ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea) in Nebraska Using Passive Surveillance

“…Humans were the likeliest tick host (Ϸ81% of lone star tick submissions; Table 3), and nymphs were the most commonly submitted stage (Table 2). Though the Þrst recorded submission occurred in 1944, most lone star ticks have been identiÞed since 1989 (Cortinas and Spomer 2013). The occurrence and geographic distribution of lone star ticks in Nebraska is further reviewed in Cortinas and Spomer (2013).…”

“…Though the Þrst recorded submission occurred in 1944, most lone star ticks have been identiÞed since 1989 (Cortinas and Spomer 2013). The occurrence and geographic distribution of lone star ticks in Nebraska is further reviewed in Cortinas and Spomer (2013). Two Gulf Coast tick (A. maculatum) reports were noted, the Þrst in 1993 in Lancaster County in which a single adult male tick was found on a human host and the second in 1995 when a single nymph was found in Richardson County.…”

“…Further studies are being conducted to assess establishment, as well as pathogen prevalence and transmission risk. Since our group began Þeld collections in 2009, we have collected only one I. scapularis (Lancaster Co.), a host-seeking female (Cortinas and Spomer 2013). In this retrospective study, only four I. scapularis were identiÞed through submissions.…”

“…However, concerns from the public about the occurrence of bullÕs eye rashes, coupled with the Þrst reported cases of human monocytic ehrlichiosis in 2007 (Nieves et al 2009), prompted us to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of ticks in the state. We recently reported our historical and Þeld collection Þndings concerning the lone star tick, A. americanum, in the state (Cortinas and Spomer 2013). In this study, we summarize the remainder of our retrospective tick submission analysis to provide information on tick occurrence and distribution, as well as to assess some county-level factors associated with tick submissions from Nebraska citizens.…”