Document Type

Report

UMaine Tick Surveillance Program Annual Report 2019

Authors

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Publisher

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Publication Date

2020

Publisher location

Orono, Maine

Abstract/ Summary

Ticks and tick-borne diseases have become a significant public health issue in Maine and throughout the eastern United States. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the US, and reported cases have been steadily increasing throughout much of the state. In addition to Lyme disease, cases of anaplasmosis and babesiosis are also on the rise. Other tick-borne diseases known to occur in Maine include Borrelia miyamotoi disease and the serious but relatively rare Powassan virus. The primary vector of these diseases, the deer tick or black-legged tick, has greatly increased in both population size and geographic range within the state. Furthermore, Maine faces significant threats related to invasive tick species including the lone star tick and Asian long-horned tick, both of which can have serious impacts on the health of humans, wildlife, and domestic animals. There are fifteen different tick species that have been found in Maine, though not all are permanent residents. Some may arrive in the state on wildlife hosts and do not establish viable populations. Other species have thrived in Maine and are now widespread throughout much of the state. The most commonly encountered tick species in Maine are the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and, to a lesser extent, the woodchuck tick (Ixodes cookei).

Repository Citation

University of Maine Cooperative Extension, "UMaine Tick Surveillance Program Annual Report 2019" (2020). General University of Maine Publications. 1658.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/univ_publications/1658

Version

publisher's version of the published document

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For more information, contact Special Collections.