Dangerous Longhorned Tick Detected in Northern Missouri by Mizzou Researchers

The University of Missouri announced that the Longhorned tick is discovered in northern Missouri by university researchers for the first time. This presents a real danger for cattle health in the Midwest.

The Longhorned tick can cause significant loss in weight gain for cattle, similar to anaplasmosis. However, this tick can possibly transmit bovine theileriosis, a disease that kills red blood cells in cattle.

One Mizzou researcher involved, Rosalie Lerardi, encourages ranchers who notice weakness, jaundice and pregnancy loss in their cattle to contact their veterinarian and the MU Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

For more information about Longhorned ticks, visit the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) website.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/home/