DOI: 10.5061/dryad.crjdfn3hk
title: Detection and response to <em>Haemaphysalis longicornis</em> and <em>Theileria orientalis</em> Ikeda on a cow-calf farm in Tennessee (USA)

description: Bovine theileriosis is a vector-borne disease poised to become one of the
 most economically significant diseases of cattle in the United States
 (U.S.). The hemoparasite Theileria orientalis Ikeda genotype causes bovine
 theileriosis (Piroplasmida: Theileriidae), which is primarily transmitted
 by Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae) (longhorned tick,
 Asian longhorned tick). Since its initial detection in New Jersey in 2017,
 H. longicornis has rapidly spread to 24 states and Washington, D.C., as of
 July 2025. Given the exotic and invasive nature of this vector and its
 unique biological characteristics, cattle producers face a lack of
 effective management guidelines. This study documents our first response
 to a Theileria orientalis Ikeda positive herd in Maury County, Tennessee
 (U.S.). Before our arrival and detection of H. longicornis on the
 property, we advised the producer to maintain a closed herd, use on-animal
 chemical control, and reduce overgrown vegetation. Upon arrival, we
 identified sampling areas where cattle primarily resided or previously had
 been and targeted these areas using timed tick dragging methods, checking
 the drag for ticks every 10 meters for a mean of 352 minutes per visit (~6
 hrs). Collections occurred once in July 2022 and every other week in 2023
 (June-November). In total, 166 H. longicornis larvae and 45 nymphs were
 collected. Nymphs were screened for T. orientalis, and 4.5% (2/44) were
 positive for T. orientalis Ikeda a year after the herd was initially
 confirmed positive. This study contributes to the long-term goal of
 developing first response plans for farms facing H. longicornis
 infestations and bovine theileriosis infections; thereby limiting the
 spread of this tick and pathogen.
description: # Detection and response to *Haemaphysalis longicornis* and *Theileria
 orientalis* Ikeda on a cow-calf farm in Tennessee (USA) Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.crjdfn3hk](10.5061/dryad.crjdfn3hk) ## Description of the
 data and file structure This dataset contains environmental and
 animal-associated tick collections conducted on a beef cattle farm in
 Tennessee during 2023–2024. Ticks were collected using drag sampling and
 on-animal inspections to assess species diversity, abundance, and pathogen
 prevalence. Associated metadata include sampling site characteristics,
 tick life stages, and molecular screening results for tick-borne
 pathogens. ### Files and variables File: Smith_et_al._data_20251124.xlsx
 **Description:** Raw data file **File Overview** | Sheet name |
 Description | | :---------------------- |
 :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **drag summary** | Summary of environmental (drag) collections by date and site, including total ticks and life stages. | | **all tick encounters** | Comprehensive record of all individual tick encounters (environmental and animal-derived), with species, life stage, and location metadata. | | **pathogen screening** | Results of molecular screening of tick samples for pathogen presence (e.g., *Theileria orientalis*). | | **animal summary** | Summary of cattle tick collections by animal and date, including animal ID, tick counts, and species. | ## Variable Descriptions 1. Files / sheets included This submission includes four sheets (contained in one Excel workbook): * `drag summary` — summary records for drag-sampling events * `all tick encounters` — specimen-level encounter records (environmental & animal) * `pathogen screening` — molecular screening results for tested specimens * `animal summary` — summary of ticks collected from individual animals Sheet: `drag summary` (Exact column names from the sheet and descriptions) * `Encounter #` — Unique numeric or alphanumeric encounter identifier * `year` — Year of collection (YYYY) * `state` — State where sampling occurred (e.g., TN) * `County Abbreviation` — four-character county code * `County` — County name * `Date` — Collection date (YYYYMMDD) * `habitat Type` — Habitat where drag occurred (e.g., pasture, woods, edge) * `start time` — Start time of sampling (local time) * `end time` — End time of sampling (local time) * `total time (minutes)` — Duration of sampling in minutes * `start temp (F)` — Ambient temperature at start (°F) * `end temp `— Ambient temperature at end (°F) * `start %RH ` — Relative humidity at start * `end %RH ` — Relative humidity at end * `Barometric pressure start`— barometric pressure at start (inHg) * `Barometric pressure ` end— barometric pressure at end (inHg) * `Distance dragged`— distance dragged in meters * `Sun cover start`— measure of sun cover at start (e.g., full sun, partly cloudy) * `Sun cover end`— measure of sun cover at end (e.g., full sun, partly cloudy) * `Wind speed start` - average wind speed at start (mph) * `Wind speed end` - average wind speed at end (mph) * `Shade? Y/N` - indication of shade cover presence or absence  * `dominant vegetation` - indication of dominant vegetation (e.g., grass, weeds) * `animals present at time` - yes or no animals were present in area * `animals previously present` - yes or no animals had been present in the area in the past  * `# species tubes` -numerical count of number of tick species per collection tube  * `No. engorged` - number of engorged ticks per tube * `No. Flat` - number of flat ticks per tube  * `ID/data entry date`-date sample processed in lab  * *Haemaphysalis_ longicornis*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Haemaphysalis_ longicornis*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Haemaphysalis_ longicornis*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Haemaphysalis_ longicornis*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Haemaphysalis_ leporispalustris*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Haemaphysalis_ leporispalustris*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Haemaphysalis_ leporispalustris*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Haemaphysalis_ leporispalustris*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ americanum*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ americanum*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ americanum*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ americanum*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ cajennese*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ cajennese*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ cajennese*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ cajennese*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ maculatum*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ maculatum*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ maculatum*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Amblyomma_ maculatum*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Dermacentor_ albpictus*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Dermacentor_ albpictus*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Dermacentor_ albpictus*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Dermacentor_ albpictus*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Dermacentor_ variabilis*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Dermacentor_ variabilis*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Dermacentor_ variabilis*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Dermacentor_ variabilis*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Ixodes_ scapularis*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Ixodes_ scapularis*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Ixodes_ scapularis*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *Ixodes_ scapularis*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that drag event * *`Haemaphysalis longicornis`* — Total count for species * *`Haemaphysalis leporispalustris`* — Total count for species * *`Amblyomma americanum`* — Total count for species * *`Amblyomma cajennese`* — Total count for species * *`Amblyomma maculatum`* — Total count for species * *`Dermacentor albpictus`* — Total count for species * *`Dermacentor variabilis`* — Total count for species * *`Ixodes scapularis`* — Total count for species * `Total` — Sum of all ticks captured in this drag event * `No. species` — Count of distinct species recorded * `# species x lifestage` — Count of unique species × life stage combinations recorded Sheet: `all tick encounters` (Exact column names and descriptions) * `Index` — Row index or encounter sequence number * `encounter_label `— Unique encounter identifier (ties to drag or animal event) * `year` - year in which collection occurred * `state` - state in which collection occurred * `county abbreviation` - four digit county code * `date` - date that specimens were collected (YYYYMMDD) * `tick species` — Identified species (scientific name) * `tick sex` — Sex of tick (male/female/NA) * `tick stage` — Life stage (larva, nymph, adult) * `Total # ticks` — Number of ticks recorded in that record (often 1 for specimen-level rows) * Additional columns present in the sheet (several taxon-specific columns aggregated) — these are captured under `tick species` and related fields above. Sheet: `pathogen screening` (Exact column names and descriptions) * `Extraction #`— Identifier for the screened sample (linked to tick or pooled specimen IDs) * `Encounter label` - Unique numeric or alphanumeric encounter identifier * `Date collected` - date the specimen was collected (YYYYMMDD) * `County` - four digit county code * `genus` - genus of specimen * `species` - species of specimen  * `life stage` - life stage of specimen (e.g., larva, nymph, adult) * `specimen ID` - unique specimen identifier * `extraction_date` — Date DNA extraction performed * `Extraction method` - part of the specimen that was extracted (e.g., vertical tick half) * `Theileria qPCR date` - date qPCR performed * `Theileria qPCR ct` - ct value of each sample from qPCR Sheet: `animal summary` (Exact column names and descriptions) * `encounter #` - unique sample identifier * `year` - year specimen was collected * `state` - state in which the specimen was collected * `county` abbreviation -four digit county code * `county` - county in which the specimen was collected * `date` - date during which the specimen was collected (YYYYMMDD) * `animal type` - e.g., livestock  * `common name` - animal common name (e.g., bovine) * `No. engorged` - number of engorged ticks per tube * `No. Flat` - number of flat ticks per tube  * *Haemaphysalis_ longicornis*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Haemaphysalis_ longicornis*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Haemaphysalis_ longicornis*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Haemaphysalis_ longicornis*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Haemaphysalis_ leporispalustris*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Haemaphysalis_ leporispalustris*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Haemaphysalis_ leporispalustris*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Haemaphysalis_ leporispalustris*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ americanum*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ americanum*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ americanum*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ americanum*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ cajennese*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ cajennese*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ cajennese*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ cajennese*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ maculatum*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ maculatum*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ maculatum*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Amblyomma_ maculatum*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Dermacentor_ albpictus*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Dermacentor_ albpictus*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Dermacentor_ albpictus*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Dermacentor_ albpictus*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Dermacentor_ variabilis*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Dermacentor_ variabilis*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Dermacentor_ variabilis*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Dermacentor_ variabilis*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Ixodes_ scapularis*_larva - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Ixodes_ scapularis*_nymph - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Ixodes_ scapularis*_male - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *Ixodes_ scapularis*_female - Numeric counts of each species × life stage found in that event * *`Haemaphysalis longicornis`* — Total count for species * *`Haemaphysalis leporispalustris`* — Total count for species * *`Amblyomma americanum`* — Total count for species * *`Amblyomma cajennese`* — Total count for species * *`Amblyomma maculatum`* — Total count for species * *`Dermacentor albpictus`* — Total count for species * *`Dermacentor variabilis`* — Total count for species * *`Ixodes scapularis`* — Total count for species * `total ticks` — Sum of all ticks captured in this drag event * `total species` — Count of distinct species recorded * `# species x lifestage` — Count of unique species × life stage combinations recorded **Data quality and handling of missing values** * Missing or unknown entries are represented by blank cells `NA`, n/a, or ".".