MINOT, N.D. (AP) - A high percentage of ticks found in North Dakota are carrying potentially deadly diseases, according to the second annual state Department of Health study of the parasites.
Four zoos, 37 veterinarians, and state and federal wildlife officials participated in the 2018 study, the Minot Daily News reported.
“They all submitted ticks, which was a huge help,” said Laura Cronquist, NDDOH division of disease control. “We had more coverage throughout the state in 2018, which was real nice.”
The state was divided into eight regions for the tick surveillance survey that started in 2017. Pools of up to 20 ticks from each region were inspected for the existence of several diseases.
The most common tick in North Dakota is the American dog tick, which is a close relative of the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Both are known for carrying the dreaded Rocky Mountain spotted fever virus which, if left untreated, can be deadly.
American dog ticks and Rocky Mountain wood ticks made up 176 pools, with 106 testing positive for disease carrying pathogens.
Deer ticks, which are known carriers of Lyme disease, were found in 22 of the 25 counties surveyed.
Rancher John Heiser, of Grassy Butte, contributed nearly half of all the 13,640 ticks that were collected and sent to the state laboratory for disease testing.
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Information from: Minot Daily News, http://www.minotdailynews.com
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