The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports the first year of the Iowa Voluntary Veterinary Tick Surveillance Program returned valuable data from veterinarians from across the state. In spring of 2019, the IDPH and Iowa State University asked vets to submit ticks removed from animals to collect data on the volume and variety of ticks. Nearly 2,600 specimens were collected from 93 of Iowa’s 99 counties. All but 20 of the ticks submitted were identified as belonging to one of four species: 1,924 were American dog ticks; 384 were black-legged or deer ticks; 239 were lone star ticks; and two were brown dog ticks. Prior to this study, deer ticks, which are potential vectors for Lyme disease, were believed to be in only 39 Iowa counties. However, this study shows can be found in nearly two-thirds of the state. Scientists will use this data to track tick populations and better understand the risk of disease transmission from these species. For more information on tick-borne illnesses, follow the link included with this story on our website.
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IDPH Tick-Borne Illness Information
