It’s more than the furtive crawling and sucking. Multiple tick species can carry multiple diseases. Prompted by an increasing number of tick-borne disease cases, Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, Joellen Lampman, Elizabeth Lamb, and Matt Frye participated in an active surveillance project to determine risks to New Yorkers, their pets, and livestock.
With the use of tick drags, these annoying arachnids were collected from school yards and suburban parks in Eastern New York and Long Island. Site conditions were noted in detail before ticks were submitted to Cornell’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center. The lab identified blacklegged ticks (primarily), dog ticks, and the newly invasive Asian longhorned tick. Disease pathogens included Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Powassan virus, and rickettsia. Some ticks carried multiple pathogens.
Bottom line? Be vigilant. Schools should continue to monitor borders between play areas and woodlots—contact us for help developing a plan! Incidence of tick-borne diseases were similar across the assessed areas, however Powassan virus is more widely distributed across Long Island than previously known. This study confirmed ticks in nearly all Nassau County parks and preserves. Be assured that NYSIPM is working relentlessly to increase awareness and reduce risk of tick-borne diseases.
Project Leaders: Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann,
Joellen Lampman, Elizabeth Lamb, and Matt Frye
VISIT OUR Don’t Get Ticked New York page
See the full 2019-2020 Annual Report on eCommons
