Asian longhorned tick threatens Illinois livestock

Illinois is now the 20th state with Asian longhorned ticks. Here’s what you need to know for your farm.

May 15, 2024

2 Min Read
A close up of an Asian longhorned tick
ASIAN LONGHORNED TICK: “I know everyone gets busy especially during farming season, and they put cattle out to pasture, but it’s more important than ever to look for tick infestations,” says Teresa Steckler, University of Illinois Extension specialist. James Gathany, CDC

On May 6, the first Asian longhorned tick was confirmed in Illinois. The tick was found in Morgan County on April 12 during a routine active tick surveillance, as part of the Illinois Department of Public Health grant-funded active tick surveillance program.

Additional tick surveillance in the area discovered two more Asian longhorned ticks on April 24.

What to know

Asian longhorned ticks are light brown, smaller than a sesame seed and roughly pea-sized when engorged. They can carry pathogens that cause diseases in humans and livestock. The tick can reproduce without a mate, laying up to 2,000 eggs at a time.

“I know everyone gets busy especially during farming season, and they put cattle out to pasture, but it’s more important than ever to look for tick infestations,” says Teresa Steckler, University of Illinois Extension specialist. “This tick can easily get established in an area and infest your livestock if left unchecked.”

Steckler says large numbers of Asian longhorned ticks have been found in livestock, primarily sheep and cattle, resulting in severe distress and death. She advises the following tick control measures on Illinois farms:

  • Use the appropriate rate of pour-on external parasite control.

  • When working cattle, check ears, flank, below the tail and around the brisket areas for tick infestations.

  • When bringing cattle in from other farms, out of state or home from livestock shows, quarantine them and treat with an external parasite control. Before turning them out to pasture, inspect the animals for ticks.

  • Consult local herd veterinarians on appropriate herd health protocols.

  • Protect yourself and pets from tick bites. Permethrins can be applied to clothing and last through washings, but caution should be taken when applying these products around pets. Consult your veterinarian for products to protect pets.

“This tick will basically bite anything that has blood in it,” Steckler says. “This means that people need to be more vigilant about their livestock, pets and themselves. They need to take preventative caution or preventative measures to protect their livestock and themselves from tick bites.”

In the U.S. cattle herd, the primary disease of concern from Asian longhorn tick is theileria. Theileria presents like anaplasmosis with symptoms including anemia, weakness, lethargy, poor appetite, fever and pale mucous membranes. Pregnant heifers and calves are the most susceptible to the disease.

“There is no approved treatment or effective vaccine against theileria, and cattle that recover from initial illness become chronic carriers of disease,” Steckler says. “While Asian longhorned tick can spread theileria, routine husbandry practices can also spread theileria.”

The Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Department of Natural Resources are monitoring the situation in partnership with USDA. If anyone believes they have identified an Asian longhorned tick on an animal, place the tick in a jar with isopropyl alcohol and call IDOA at 217-782-4944.

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