Invasive tick species found in Polk County; farmers work to protect livestock

by LAUREN BRIGMAN

Saturday, July 14th 2018

MILL SPRING, N.C. (WLOS) — POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) - An invasive, non-native tick species has turned up in the mountains, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture is urging livestock producers and residents to be on the lookout.

State agriculture officials say multiple longhorned ticks were discovered on a possum at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.

The state veterinarian for North Carolina, Dr. Doug Meckes, says the discovery was made when officials "had an opportunity to revisit some tick samples that were taken last spring at the site of the World Equestrian Games in Tryon."

MILL SPRING, N.C. (WLOS) — POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) - An invasive, non-native tick species has turned up in the mountains, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture is urging livestock producers and residents to be on the lookout.

State agriculture officials say multiple longhorned ticks were discovered on a possum at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.

The state veterinarian for North Carolina, Dr. Doug Meckes, says the discovery was made when officials "had an opportunity to revisit some tick samples that were taken last spring at the site of the World Equestrian Games in Tryon."

What they found was "a single opossum that had seven ticks."

State agriculture officials say this type of tick might carry several diseases and reproduces quickly. "This is asexual reproduction, which really makes this a unique species," adds Meckes.

Meckes says measures are being taken to keep animals that come to Polk County and those who live there safe.

"Fortunately, this tick is susceptible to all of the measures that we'd already planned on taking in Polk County, to prevent the spread of ticks or the spread of disease during the time of the World Equestrian Games."

News 13 spoke with Michael Herman, the farm manager of Caitlyn Farms in Mill Spring, about how he takes precautions to protect his herd of cattle from pests.

Prevention measures for this farm include cattle rubs, insecticide tags and spray, plus a daily mineral feed.

Luckily, Meckes says prevention programs like the one at Caitlyn Farms works. "Whatever you're doing as a livestock producer, whatever you're doing to protect your family, continue to do that."

State agriculture officials say the longhorned tick is an exotic, East Asian species. They say it has not been linked to any human infection in the U.S. so far.

North Carolina is now the fifth state to have this tick. It has also been identified in Arkansas, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia.

Source:   http://wlos.com/news/local/invasive-tick-species-disease-carrier-found-in-tryon