The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Animal Health Division has confirmed the presence of the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, otherwise known as the Asian Longhorned tick. It was found affecting a cow in Pickens County, located in the northern part of the state.
This is the first case of the invasive tick identified in Georgia, and while it is native to eastern Asia, an investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of the tick’s presence in this area.
In 2017 USDA confirmed the tick was present in the U.S. as it’s been identified in several states in the eastern part of the country. GDA recommends the following advice to farmers, foresters, and those who frequent areas where ticks are abundant:
- Work with your veterinarian and extension agent to discuss an appropriate tick strategy for your flock or herd.
- Check cattle, horses, sheep, goats and other free ranging animals routinely for any kind of ticks and remove immediately.
- While there are no approved insecticides for the Longhorned tick in the U.S., many of the commonly used permethrin preparations used in the country today are effective. Livestock producers must observe tissue withdrawal times for all insect prevention or treatment preparations used in or on food animals.
- If you find a large number of ticks on an individual animal, call your veterinarian and report it to GDA Animal Health at 404-656-3667.
To see more information about the Asian Longhorned Tick, click here.