Effective tick surveillance is critical for diagnosing and preventing tick-borne diseases, yet the United States suffers from uneven surveillance coverage, leaving significant gaps. One such gap exists in New Mexico, prompting a team led by Paige R. Harman to undertake a comprehensive surveillance study in the southern part of the state.

Study Overview

The study involved both active and passive tick sampling in southern New Mexico, focusing on Hidalgo, Doña Ana, Otero, and Eddy counties from June 2021 to May 2022. Active sampling methods included dragging and CO₂ trapping, while passive sampling utilized opportunistic collections from animals encountered in various settings, including wildlife harvested by hunters, animals captured or collected by researchers, and pets in animal hospitals, shelters, and farms.

Key Findings

Active Sampling Results: Active sampling yielded no ticks, highlighting the challenges of detecting tick populations through this method alone in certain environments.

Passive Sampling Results: Passive sampling, on the other hand, was more fruitful, yielding a total of 497 ticks. The species identified included:

• Carios kelleyi from pallid bats

• Rhipicephalus sanguineus from dogs, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain elk

• Otobius megnini from dogs, cats, horses, and Coues deer

• Dermacentor parumapertus from dogs and black-tailed jackrabbits

• Dermacentor albipictus from domesticated cats, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain elk

• Dermacentor spp. from American black bear, Rocky Mountain elk, and mule deer

Pathogen Detection: Several ticks tested positive for pathogens:

• Rickettsia parkeri, an agent of spotted fever rickettsiosis, was detected in a pool of D. parumapertus from a black-tailed jackrabbit in Luna County.

• A spotted fever group Rickettsia was found in six out of seven C. kelleyi pools.

Two ticks showed morphological abnormalities, but these samples did not test positive for any of the targeted pathogens. The cause of the abnormalities remains unknown.

Clinical Implications

Importance of Passive Surveillance: The success of passive sampling in detecting a variety of tick species and pathogens underscores its value in surveillance efforts. Veterinarians and public health officials should leverage passive surveillance as a reliable method for monitoring tick populations and associated pathogens.

Updating Tick Distributions: The findings provide updated information on tick distributions in southern New Mexico, which is crucial for informing public health, medical, and veterinary communities about potential tick-borne disease risks in the region.

Preventive Measures: Veterinarians should educate pet owners about tick prevention and control strategies, particularly in areas with known tick activity. Regular tick checks and the use of tick preventatives can help reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases in pets.

Collaborative Efforts: Collaboration between veterinary professionals, public health officials, and researchers is essential to maintain robust tick surveillance and enhance our understanding of tick-borne disease dynamics.

The study highlights the importance of filling surveillance gaps to improve our knowledge of tick distributions and the presence of tick-borne pathogens. By utilizing both passive and active surveillance methods, this research provides valuable insights that can help protect public health and animal welfare in southern New Mexico. Read the full article: Science abhors a surveillance vacuum: Detection of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in southern New Mexico through passive surveillance