UW researchers study tick hosts to sharpen disease control

Ticks remain a moving target for veterinarians, and a University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine research effort is trying to make that target clearer. The work, led through Lyric Bartholomay’s lab, focuses on blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, and uses bloodmeal analysis on field-collected ticks to identify the host species helping maintain tick populations and the pathogens they carry. UW describes the project as part of a broader push to improve control of ticks and other vectors as Lyme disease risk expands across Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. (vetmed.wisc.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the study gets at a practical question behind every prevention conversation: which animals are sustaining local tick cycles, and where should control efforts be focused? Blacklegged ticks are established throughout Wisconsin’s forested habitat and can transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Powassan virus. Better ecological data could help clinics sharpen regional risk messaging, support year-round prevention recommendations, and frame tick control as a One Health issue that affects pets, pet parents, and people alike. (wisconsin-ticks.russell.wisc.edu)

What to watch: Watch for future data from the UW team on host patterns, pathogen findings, or field-tested control strategies that could translate into more targeted prevention guidance for clinics. (vetmed.wisc.edu)