Linking tick and wildlife host distributions to map risk of tick-borne diseases

Authors: GARCÍA-CARRASCO, JOSÉ-MARÍA - Washington State University; CROWDER, DAVID - Washington State University; Poh, Karen; MOSQUEDA, JUAN - Autonomous University Of Queretaro; Ueti, Massaro; GUTIERREZ-ILLAN, JAVIER - Washington State University

Submitted to: Parasites & Vectors
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/5/2025
Publication Date: 11/9/2025
Citation: García-Carrasco, J., Crowder, D.W., Poh, K.C., Mosqueda, J., Ueti, M.W., Gutierrez-Illan, J. 2025. Linking tick and wildlife host distributions to map risk of tick-borne diseases. Parasites & Vectors. 18. Article 472. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-07096-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-07096-0

Interpretive Summary: Several tick-borne diseases threaten livestock worldwide, including diseases such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, heartwater, and theileriosis. The spread of these diseases is complicated given changing environments, unknown risk factors, and multiple interactions amongst ticks and hosts. In this study, we used a One Health approach, emphasizing the connections between humans, animals, the environment, and wildlife, to identify areas in North America at risk for these diseases in cattle. We looked at drivers of the spread of ticks and used this information to predict where four key diseases could appear. Our results show that livestock in the central and eastern U.S., and southern Mexico, are most at risk. We also found that wild animals like white-tailed deer and feral hogs play a significant role in spreading ticks. Areas with more species of wild ungulates (i.e., hoofed mammals) seem to support more species of ticks, demonstrating the importance of the role of wildlife communities and environmental conditions in shaping tick-borne disease risk patterns for livestock. Understanding where the risk is highest can help create strategies to protect cattle health.

Technical Abstract: Tick-borne pathogens threaten livestock production worldwide. In North America and the Caribbean, tick-borne pathogens cause diseases such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, heartwater, and theileriosis in cattle. The epidemiology of each disease is complex, with multiple tick and/or host species interacting across variable environments, and disease risk has not been fully assessed across North America. Here, we used a One Health approach to identify areas with potential risk of circulation of tick-borne pathogens in North American cattle. Specifically, we integrated the interconnectedness of human, livestock, environment, and wildlife factors to disentangle the ecological drivers of tick distributions and develop predictive distribution models for four diseases. We show that livestock operations in the central and eastern United States, and in southern Mexico, are likely the most vulnerable to tick-borne pathogens. We also found that wild ungulate species that had a relatively significant influence on the distribution of multiple tick species included white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and feral hogs (Sus scrofa). Moreover, areas with greater ungulate diversity appeared to support a higher diversity of ticks, further demonstrating the role of host community structure in shaping dynamics of tick-borne pathogens. Identifying regions of North America with high exposure to tick-borne pathogens by assessing complex interactions between pathogens, hosts, and vectors can aid in developing control strategies to safeguard cattle health.