Staff reports 8:32 a.m.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018 8:33 am

The Asian longhorned tick, seen above, has been identified in nine states since late 2017. (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD - A particularly observant New Hampshire resident recently noticed a tick on a dog visiting New Hampshire from an area in New York where the Asian longhorned tick has been found. That tick and others were submitted for examination where it was confirmed as the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis (H. longicornis) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratory. This is the first time the pest has been found in the Granite State. It is hoped it may be limited to the visiting dog, but that cannot be confirmed.

The Asian longhorned tick has been identified in nine states since late 2017. Retrospective studies in some of those states show that the tick has been present in the United States since at least 2010. This tick is native to Southeast Asia, where it has been a pest of livestock, wildlife, and household pets. It appears to have less affinity for biting humans, though it will do so. To date no cases of harmful diseases have been found in these ticks in the United States, though it is known to transmit illness in other countries.

The New Hampshire Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food, the state Dept. of Health and Human Services, and Fish and Game are asking veterinarians, physicians, animal owners, and outdoor enthusiasts to be alert for the presence of all ticks on patients, themselves and the animals with which they may have contact, domestic or wild. People should use typical tick-avoidance strategies for themselves and the animals in their care - wear appropriate clothing, use insecticides and check yourself and your animals regularly (https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/pdfs/AsianLonghornedTick-P.pdf).

The public's assistance in monitoring ticks is appreciated and essential. NH agencies do not currently have the ability to perform routine tick surveillance, so there is a need for residents to remain vigilant. Any unusual ticks should be submitted for identification through either a veterinarian or physician to the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food using this form, https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/publications-forms/documents/tick-submission-form.pdf.

"This tick already appears to be established in the environment in a number of states, so eradication from the US is unlikely," said Steve Crawford, NH State Veterinarian. "The frequency of people traveling with animals they own, whether it is household pets going on vacation, horses going for trail rides, or livestock going to fairs, increases the potential for this tick to be spread across the country. Our hope with these messages is to prevent, for as long as possible, the introduction of H. longicornis in New Hampshire. We are asking everyone to not only protect themselves from tick bites but to pay close attention to their animals as possible transporters of this tick, or any other, into New Hampshire."

The location of where the tick was found was not immediately clear. Nor was it clear how great the likelihood may be that an infestation in the state could occur given the circumstances of the sighting.