Serving as a reminder for cattle producers and their veterinarians, this article urges staying alert for signs of tick infestation within their herds. The authors say early diagnostic testing at the first sign of a suspect illness in their cattle should be considered. Major tick-borne threats to U.S. cattle producers include cattle tick fever (Bovine Babesiosis), Anaplasmosis and Theileriosis.
Ticks are excellent vectors for pathogen transmission as they are all obligate blood feeders. This means that they must bite and consume a blood meal from a vertebrate host in order to survive and progress through their life cycle.
Source: BEEF, March/April 2025. Link.
Images: Saraina Adam, USDA-ARS; University of Manitoba
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