New York State Tick Blitz: harnessing community-based science to understand range expansion of ticks

Abstract

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are an immense public health burden in New York State (NYS), United States. Tick species and associated pathogens are expanding into new areas, shifting threats to human, and animal health across the state. For example, the invasive tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae), was first detected in the United States in 2017 and has since been identified in 17 states, including NYS. In addition, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) is a native tick thought to be reestablishing historical populations in NYS. We implemented a community-based science project called the "NYS Tick Blitz" to determine the distribution of A. americanum and H. longicornis in NYS. Community volunteers were recruited, provided with education, training, and materials to conduct active tick sampling during a 2-wk period in June 2021. Fifty-nine volunteers sampled 164 sites across 15 counties, for a total of 179 separate collection events and 3,759 ticks collected. The most frequently collected species was H. longicornis, followed by Dermacentor variabilis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), and A. americanum, respectively. Through the NYS Tick Blitz collections, H. longicornis was identified for the first time in Putnam County. We conducted pooled pathogen testing on a subset of specimens, with the highest rates of infection detected for pathogens transmitted by I. scapularis, including Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti. Most participants who completed a follow-up survey (n = 23, 71.9%) were promoters of the NYS Tick Blitz and 50% (n = 15) reported that they enjoyed participating in meaningful science.

Keywords: community-based science; distribution; establishment; surveillance; ticks.