SCORES & OUTDOORS: Here comes another Asian nemesis

Asian longhorned tick

by Roland D. Hallee

The University of Maine and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) have confirmed the presence of an invasive Asian longhorned tick in the state for the first time.

The tick was submitted through University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s passive tick surveillance program and identified by staff at the UMaine Extension Tick Lab. Follow-up active surveillance in the surrounding area did not detect any additional specimens.

The specimen, a nymph, was collected in Cumberland County and submitted for identification and pathogen testing. This marks the first known occurrence of the species in Maine and raises important considerations for livestock care, wildlife management and public health.

“This discovery underscores the critical importance of continued tick surveillance in Maine,” said Griffin Dill, director of the UMaine Extension Tick Lab. “While this appears to be an isolated case, we are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with state and federal partners. Early detection is essential to understanding and mitigating the potential risks associated with this species.”

Why the Asian Longhorned Tick Is a Growing Concern.

Native to East Asia, the Asian longhorned tick was first confirmed in the United States in New Jersey in 2017 and has since spread through more than twenty states. Unlike most ticks, female Asian longhorned ticks can reproduce without mating, creating infestations from a single individual and posing a unique challenge for control. The tick found in Maine was at a juvenile stage that can’t reproduce.

They feed on a wide range of hosts, including livestock, pets, wildlife and people. In other regions, they have been shown to transmit the cattle pathogen Theileria orientalis, which can cause significant illness. Research is ongoing to understand if this tick species can spread the pathogens found in Maine and elsewhere in the U.S.

In response to the recent finding, state and research partners are intensifying monitoring efforts to determine whether the Asian longhorned tick is persistent in Maine and, if so, to understand its potential spread. UMaine, DACF and the MaineHealth Institute for Research will continue targeted active surveillance in the region and encourage the public to remain vigilant.

How Maine Can Prepare

DACF, in collaboration with the UMaine Extension Tick Lab and Maine CDC, recommends these preventative measures:

Use tick preventatives: Veterinarians should advise on effective treatments for livestock and pets.

Conduct rigorous tick checks: Examine animals, especially ears, eyes, tails, and feet, regularly and remove any ticks found promptly and safely.

Maintain the landscape: Keep yards and pastures brush-free and create mulch or gravel borders to reduce tick habitat.

Continued Monitoring and Reporting

The presence of Asian longhorned ticks in Maine and neighboring states, along with the data from UMaine Extension’s ongoing passive surveillance program, highlights the urgency of staying alert.

“If you find an unusual-looking tick or suspect an infestation, don’t hesitate to report it to DACF,” said Dr. Rachael Fiske, assistant state veterinarian. “In this and every instance, early detection is key to protecting Maine’s livestock, pets, wildlife and public health.”

To report findings or for more information, contact the Maine DACF’s Animal Health Division, 207.287.3701; animalhealth.dacf@maine.gov.

For more information on tick species in Maine and submitting a tick for identification and testing, visit the UMaine Extension Tick Lab website at extension.umaine.edu/ticks. Additional guidance is also available on the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention website and the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora was born on which Caribbean Island?