As the Asian longhorned tick moves into new regions, researchers express concerns because ALTs can transmit a protozoan pathogen known as Theileria orientalis, specifically the Ikeda genotype. T. orientalis has similar clinical signs to anaplasmosis but impacts young animals instead of older animals.
The Asian Long-horned tick is a three-host tick and reproduces through parthenogenesis, meaning they do not need a male to reproduce. All three life stages have been seen feeding on the same species or individual, which allows the population to be established at a quick rate.
Source: Oklahoma State University, May 21, 2025. Link.
We could have instances where as many as 1,000 of these ticks could be feeding on a single animal at a given time. That could result in the animal dying due to blood loss.” – Jonathan Cammack, PhD