Tick Talk: July 2024
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Hunters Help Track Ticks:?
Tick-borne diseases?are on the rise throughout the country, and hunters and researchers are collaborating to bring more tick-related information to light. Hunters spend a lot of time in the woods, putting them at high-risk for tick exposure. If hunters are infected with a tick-borne illness, researchers will be able to identify the risk for disease in that area and better understand the symptoms for diagnosis. Hunters are also contributing to the cause in a program with Baylor University and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by checking the animals they catch for ticks, and sending them to be tested for infections.
Tick-killing Fungus Research:?
A potential form of tick control that could limit the spread of Lyme disease is being?studied at a Nova Scotia university.?Luís Anholeto, a researcher?at Acadia University in Wolfville,?is examining?a type of fungus that occurs naturally?in soil and has been found to kill?blacklegged and American dog ticks.?Anholeto?discovered that?ticks, newly collected for research, were dying after coming into contact with the fungus.?"Our lab is dedicated to finding innovative solutions for tick management and our focus is basically on using natural products for development of repellents," said?Anholeto, a member of the tick-centred research hub?since 2023.
According to Nicoletta Faraone, an associate professor in Acadia's biology department, the fungus could provide a more sustainable approach to tick management than synthetic acaricide sprays.?"The fungus is environmentally sustainable. I would say there is not a magic cure that will eliminate ticks at all, but for sure we can use different little approaches that all together will make a difference."?This resonated with ohDEER, as we only provide our customers 100% natural and eco-friendly pest control options.
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Ticks Affect on Cattle:?
A tiny cattle tick is causing big economic losses to farmers and ranchers worldwide. Uruguay has been harshly affected by cattle ticks, which have cost the country over $30 million in economic losses a year. Even 25 years ago, economic losses caused by the cattle tick were estimated to be $33 million a year. Up to 90% of the cattle that are infected with a fever carried by the tick, die. In addition, tick damage to cattle's skin impacts the leather industry and tick-borne illnesses reduce cattle's milk production.?For these reasons, Uruguay's national government has shown strong support for research on cattle ticks, in hopes of protecting their vital cattle industry. Currently, the only method of controlling cattle ticks in Uruguay is heavy use of chemical insecticides, but the ticks have developed resistance to these chemicals, that also carry residues harmful to the cattle.
Monika Gulia-Nuss, an associate professor and graduate program director in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology in the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, is working closely with researchers in Uruguay. “Uruguay's economy is highly dependent on agriculture, especially cattle. Cattle fever tick is a huge economic problem in the country, and the Uruguayan government is committed to research to develop genetic tick-control methods,” said Gulia-Nuss.
Gulia-Nuss has broken important new ground in understanding the genetic code of ticks, beginning with the Lyme-disease carrying deer tick. In the past decade, her lab has developed innovative tools to analyze and modify the ability of deer ticks to spread pathogens. Gulia-Nuss seeks to identify genes of cattle ticks that could be targeted for genetic control or improved pesticides. The cattle tick presents a more challenging genetic mystery, as the genome of the cattle tick is complex and large, twice the size of the human genome!
A better understanding of the cattle tick’s genetics leads the way for development of effective vaccines. These vaccines would be administered to the cattle that often find themselves unfortunate hosts of these deadly ticks. Early in 2025, Gulia-Nuss will return to Uruguay for a three-month tenure supported by the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award. During that time, she’ll inject thousands of tick embryos to better understand their genetic workings.
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