UW researchers study tick hosts to sharpen disease control: full analysis

A University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine research team is digging into a basic but consequential question in tick-borne disease control: which hosts are keeping blacklegged ticks going, and how can that knowledge reduce transmission risk? The project, highlighted by dvm360 and described by UW’s Bartholomay Lab, centers on bloodmeal analysis of dragged Ixodes scapularis ticks to understand the diversity of animals maintaining and feeding these vectors. Research lead Karen Fuenzalida Araya is listed on the project, which sits within UW’s broader vector-borne disease portfolio. (vetmed.wisc.edu)

The backdrop is a steadily widening tick-borne disease footprint in Wisconsin and across the Midwest. UW has previously described Wisconsin as a Lyme disease hotspot, and CDC-backed work at the university has focused on improving surveillance, testing control methods, and building regional preparedness for mosquito- and tick-borne threats. Blacklegged ticks are now found broadly across Wisconsin where forested habitat exists, not just in historically high-risk northern areas. (vetmed.wisc.edu)

What’s notable here is the study’s ecological angle. Rather than looking only at the pathogen, the project aims to identify the host community that supports the tick life cycle. According to the Bartholomay Lab’s project description, the team is “working on controlling the population of this vector” and using bloodmeal analysis on dragged ticks to understand the host diversity behind tick maintenance. That matters because host composition can shape not only tick abundance, but also the likelihood that ticks acquire and pass along pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. dvm360’s broader recent coverage has also pointed to ecological drivers of Lyme risk, including host diversity and environmental conditions that influence tick survival and spread. (vetmed.wisc.edu)

UW’s wider vector-borne disease program gives the project additional context. Bartholomay co-leads the CDC-funded Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease, which brings together universities and public health agencies across five states to improve surveillance, validate control methods, and respond to emerging threats. UW has said that as researchers better understand where ticks live and what pathogens they harbor, they can design ways to reduce exposure and disease prevalence. (vetmed.wisc.edu)

Direct outside reaction specific to this project was limited in publicly accessible sources, but the broader expert consensus is clear: tick-borne disease prevention needs to be local, sustained, and grounded in ecology. CDC says recent estimates suggest about 476,000 people in the United States are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, even though reported surveillance counts are lower. CDC also advises protecting pets from ticks and notes veterinarians should be involved in product selection, especially for cats. (cdc.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, this is the kind of upstream research that can eventually change downstream clinical conversations. If investigators can better identify the wildlife or domestic animal hosts sustaining local blacklegged tick populations, clinics may be able to tailor prevention messaging more precisely by geography, habitat, and season. That supports stronger recommendations for year-round tick prevention, earlier suspicion for vector-borne disease, and more effective client education for pet parents who may still think tick risk is limited to summer or to certain zip codes. The One Health dimension is hard to miss: the same tick species threatens companion animals and people, and better vector control intelligence can benefit both. (wisconsin-ticks.russell.wisc.edu)

There’s also a business and workflow angle for practice teams. As tick habitat expands and pet parents encounter exposure in backyards, parks, and wooded edges, clinics are increasingly the front line for prevention counseling, product selection, and differential diagnosis. Research that clarifies local ecology could help practices move beyond generic advice and toward more region-specific recommendations, especially in upper Midwestern markets where blacklegged ticks are well established. (vetmed.wisc.edu)

What to watch: The next signal will be whether the UW team publishes host-specific findings, pathogen prevalence data, or intervention results that can be translated into practical guidance for veterinary clinics and public health partners. (vetmed.wisc.edu)