In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, extension veterinarian with Oklahoma State University, about the growing concern surrounding the Asian longhorned tick and the disease risks it brings to cattle producers in Oklahoma.
A New Tick Moving into Oklahoma
Dr. Biggs says this invasive pest has steadily expanded across the country and is now being detected closer to Oklahoma. “We’ve been watching the Asian Longhorn tick kind of march its way across the U.S., starting on the East Coast and now finding ourselves with some detections here in Oklahoma,” she said, pointing to northeastern Oklahoma and neighboring states like Missouri and Arkansas as areas of concern.
Why This Tick Raises Concern
Biggs explained that while ticks are nothing new to cattle producers, this species brings added risk. “The concern we have with Asian Longhorned tick is, of course, it’s a new tick species,” she said. “It is capable of carrying a variety of pathogens… but in particular, the Asian Longhorned tick is associated with another parasite called Theileria orientalis Ikeda.”
That parasite presents a unique challenge compared to more familiar diseases. “For our cattlemen listening, it’s going to look like anaplas, but it has some real significant differences there,” Biggs said. “We can treat anaplasmosis… the theileria that’s associated with the Longhorn tick, that we cannot.”
A Disease That Impacts All Ages
Unlike anaplasmosis, which typically affects older cattle, Biggs says this disease can impact the entire herd. “It will impact calves all the way up to adults,” she explained. “When we have these kind of introductions, we can see some really significant signs, even deaths.”
She noted that symptoms can closely resemble anaplasmosis, including anemia, weakness, and lethargy, which can make it difficult to recognize without proper testing.
The Importance of Testing and Awareness
Because of those similarities, Biggs emphasized the need for vigilance. “If we see things that look like anaplas but doesn’t respond to treatment… we need to be testing for theileria,” she said, especially in younger cattle where symptoms would be less typical for anaplasmosis.
She also advised producers to take precautions when bringing in new animals. Knowing the health status of incoming cattle, particularly from affected regions, can help reduce the risk of introducing the disease into a herd.
Building a Plan with Your Veterinarian
Biggs stressed that preparation and strong veterinary relationships are key to managing emerging threats like this one. “This is a good opportunity to start those conversations and be aware of these emerging diseases and be poised to respond if we need to,” she said.
As the Asian longhorned tick continues to spread, Biggs encourages producers to stay informed, monitor their herds closely, and work proactively with veterinarians to protect herd health.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR above for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
