Tick Migration Surveys: Uncovering the Spread of Disease-Carrying Ticks in Montana
Biologist Grant Hokit ventured into a small meadow in the mountains outside Condon, Montana, armed with a handmade tool designed to detect ticks. The device, made from plastic pipes and white flannel cloth, may have looked simplistic, but the scientific survey it was a part of was quite serious. Hokit’s mission was to sweep the cloth over shrubs and grass, hoping to catch “questing” ticks that would latch on, providing valuable insights into the presence and spread of these disease-carrying insects in the region.
As Hokit walked along the summer trail, he explained that ticks often dangle from blades of grass, waiting for a passing mammal to attach themselves to. His efforts were rewarded when he exclaimed, “We got one,” after a tick latched onto the cloth. The captured tick would be taken back to Hokit’s lab in Helena for identification, with most likely being identified as Rocky Mountain wood ticks. However, Hokit’s primary goal was to determine if new species of ticks were making their way into the state, potentially bringing new diseases with them.
The Importance of Tick Surveillance
Human-driven climate change is altering the behavior of ticks, allowing them to spend less time hibernating and more time actively seeking hosts. This increase in activity raises concerns about the potential spread of tick-borne diseases. According to Neil Ku, an infectious disease specialist at the Billings Clinic in eastern Montana, patients often don’t connect the dots between a tick bite and subsequent illness, making it challenging for doctors to diagnose tick-borne diseases. Knowing what species of ticks are present in the region can help doctors anticipate potential diseases and provide more effective treatment.
Devon Cozart, a zoonotic illness and vector-borne disease epidemiologist with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, emphasizes the importance of tick surveillance in informing physicians and providing better care for patients. By collecting and testing ticks from field surveys, Cozart can determine whether they are carrying pathogens, which is crucial information for medical providers. The type of mammal a tick feeds on also plays a role in determining the risk of disease transmission, as certain rodents may carry specific pathogens.
Challenges in Tick Surveillance
Despite the importance of tick surveillance, many health departments across the country lack the resources to conduct thorough surveys. A 2023 survey of nearly 500 health departments found that only about a quarter engage in some form of tick surveillance. Chelsea Gridley-Smith, director of environmental health at the National Association of City and County Health Officials, notes that field surveys can be expensive, and many local and state health departments rely on passive approaches, such as collecting ticks from concerned patients, veterinarians, and doctors. However, this method provides limited information about the prevalence and distribution of ticks in a given area.
Montana receives approximately $60,000 from a federal grant annually, with the majority going toward mosquito surveillance. The remaining funds support trips into the field to look for ticks, but Hokit’s team lacks sufficient funding to survey the entire state. As a result, they must rely on data on climate and vegetation to make predictions about where deer ticks might thrive, allowing them to narrow down their search and inform the public about potential risks.
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