Fryxell. That’ s also where cattle find shade, giving all three life stages of the Longhorned tick a target-rich environment.
“ Mowing or brush hogging lowers the vegetation height where the ticks can climb up and look for an animal,” Trout Frywell said.“ It makes it drier near the leaf litter where some of them will be resting.”
Longhorned ticks are susceptible to products that control ticks and flies.“ We’ re seeing that fly management is working for tick management,” Trout Fryxell explained.“ A lot of those products are cross labeled for both flies and ticks.”
Longhorned ticks haven’ t yet developed resistance to parasite control products. Given their pathogenetic reproduction, however, resistance could develop quickly. It’ s important to work with your veterinarian on using pest control products in a way that slows resistance in other external and internal parasites and keeps resistance low in Longhorned ticks.
Biosecurity is important in controlling Theileriosis, Lahmers emphasized. In endemic areas, avoid bringing in naive animals.“ There are folks who are looking for Theileria orientalis positive bulls so they can bring them in without worrying about losing a high-value animal or having gaps in the breeding season associated with decreased libido from anemia,” he added.
“ And don’ t bring in late pregnant heifers. If you do, know their status so you can keep them close and work on increased tick control to avoid abortions,” Lahmers advised.“ You can’ t prevent all disease, but you can decrease the potential for severe disease.”
Theileria orientalis, Ikeda is listed by USDA as a notifiable disease in cattle at the federal level, meaning immediate voluntary reporting is required by animal health professionals. Since reporting requirements may also vary by state, producers and veterinarians should contact the office of their state veterinarian for current state reporting obligations.
References: 1. USDA longhorned tick website: https:// www. aphis. usda. gov / livestockpoultry-disease / cattle / ticks / asian-longhorned
Photo courtesy of USDA-APHIS.
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