Scientists: New tick found in CT could affect humans

Gulf Coast ticks have been found in the state and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station says the ticks could pose health concerns in both humans and dogs.

In humans, Gulf Coast ticks can transmit Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, a form of spotted fever.

The ticks can can also transmit an agent that causes canine hepatozoonosis in dogs, leading to decreased appetite, weight loss, muscle pain/weakness, reluctance to move and discharge from the eyes and nose.

The discovery of the Gulf Coast ticks in an undisclosed location in Fairfield County was announced Monday by the station.

According to Dr. Goudarz Molaei, a research scientist who also directs the CAES Tick Surveillance and Testing Program, this is the first report of populations of the Gulf Coast tick in the northeastern United States.

“Considering the role of this species in transmission of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, this finding highlights ongoing challenges associated with range expansion of tick species into Connecticut, a state already with pervasive populations of blacklegged ticks and established populations of lone star ticks.”

The Gulf Coast tick is small to medium sized, body 3-7 millimeters long and 2-4 millimeters wide.

It is distributed throughout Central and South American countries bordering the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

In the United States, its distribution was originally limited to the southeastern states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and the south Atlantic states.

However, in recent decades, its range has expanded northward into the midAtlantic states with new populations reported from Delaware and Maryland.

According to the station, the Gulf Coast tick is a three-host tick because each active life stage feeds on a different host. Larvae and nymphs feed on birds and small rodents and rabbits, while adults primarily feed on larger mammals including white-tailed deer, dogs, coyotes, skunks and bears.

They will also readily feed on humans.

Dr. Jason C. White, CAES director, said “this important finding highlights the critical nature of the Experiment Station’s comprehensive vectorborne disease surveillance programs to the public health of our state.”