Tick-borne disease threatens Iowa cattle

An unwelcome invasive species, the Asian longhorned tick, has established a foothold in Iowa, posing a threat to livestock producers across the eastern half of the U.S.

The tick's ability to clone itself means a single female can trigger infestations, potentially leading to the devastating spread of theileriosis, a cattle disease for which no approved U.S. treatment exists.

The Asian longhorned tick, first reported in the U.S. in 2017 but likely present years earlier, has spread to at least 21 states primarily across the East and Midwest.

Confirmed in Iowa