Understanding the Burden of Agriculturally Significant Vector-Borne and Parasitic Diseases in Kansas

Background: The state of Kansas (KS) has been called the "agricultural heartland" of the United States. Vector-borne and parasitic diseases (VBPD) have a major impact on the production of livestock, such as cattle, swine, goats and sheep, as well as crops, such as wheat, corn, and sorghum. The purpose of this review is to educate agricultural professionals in the state of KS about VBPD of current or potential concern and to inform the public about the challenges faced by the agricultural community. Methods: This review describes and discusses the endemic VBPD that currently impact agricultural production in KS and foreign VBPD of concern. In addition, we outline the major arthropod vectors of VBPD in KS, including ticks, mites, and various insects. In the context of this review, parasites are strictly limited to arthropod ectoparasites that negatively impact livestock production. Modern agricultural data for the state of KS were mostly sourced from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, and current KS VBPD data were mostly sourced from the KS State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Conclusion: These VBPD have a large economic impact on the state and country, and we have concluded there is a need for updated estimates regarding the economic burden of VBPD in KS and throughout the United States to make better animal and crop health investment decisions.