Expanding Geographic Range of Gulf Coast Tick (Ixodida:Ixodidae) and other Ixodid Tick Vector Populations: Implications for Military and Public Health Services.

Authors

Bianca M Wimmer, Carlos J Garcia, Cynthia Reinoso Webb, Steven M Presley

Published in

Medical journal (Fort Sam Houston, Tex.). Volume 108. Issue 2. Pages 53-59.

Abstract

Several ixodid tick species that are competent vectors of disease-causing pathogens to humans, domestic animals and wildlife are expanding their geographic range, with population redistribution within their respective geographic range. These range and population distribution changes pose a significant threat to U.S. Military Health Service beneficiaries, working dogs, and the public health at large. We report new findings of established Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum Koch) populations occurring outside the historic and most recently described geographic range projections for the species. More than 470 ixodid tick specimens collected from farm dogs were identified and tested for rickettsial pathogens during 2023 and 2024. Of the ticks submitted and identified to species, 14% were confirmed to be Gulf Coast ticks detected. Of the Gulf Coast ticks, 6.82% were positive for Borrelia spp., one tick was positive for Ehrilichia spp., and 93.18% were positive for Rickettsia spp. As the geographic range of established Gulf Coast tick and other ixodid tick vector populations continues to expand northerly and westerly into the Southcentral and southern Midwest Regions of the United States, the increasing threat to human and veterinary health will be an increasingly significant concern.

PMID:
42525701
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Jul 2026.

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