Filling the Gap: Establishing a Statewide Tick and Tick-Borne Pathogen Surveillance Program

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Entomology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Tick-borne diseases pose an increasing threat in the southeastern USA due to environmental changes.
• Limited prior data existed on tick distribution and infection rates in South Carolina.
• Systematic tick and pathogen surveillance is vital for public health protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a sustainable tick and tick-borne pathogen collaborative network in South Carolina.
• To investigate tick species distribution and pathogen prevalence within the state.
• To provide a model for other states to improve national tick surveillance.

Main Methods:

• Collected questing ticks from public lands and host-attached ticks from animal shelters.
• Utilized a collaborative network involving universities, public health departments, park employees, veterinarians, students, and volunteers.
• Conducted pathogen testing on collected ticks.

Main Results:

• Amblyomma americanum was the most frequent tick, concentrated in the southern coastal region.
• Animal shelter ticks showed greater species diversity than questing ticks.
• High prevalence of *Rickettsia amblyommatis* was detected in *Am. americanum*, alongside other *Rickettsia*, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma species. *Borrelia burgdorferi* was detected in one *Ixodes keiransi*.

Conclusions:

• The established network provides crucial initial data on tick and pathogen surveillance in South Carolina.
• Collaboration is key to successful tick surveillance programs.
• The findings underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring to mitigate tick-borne disease risks.