Asian Tick Takes a Bite in the U.S.

Haemaphysalis longicornis, a multiorganism-vector tick prevalent in Asia and discovered on sheep in New Jersey in 2017, has bitten a man in New York State.

The tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (see ), or Asian longhorned tick, is endemic to eastern China, Russia, Korea, and Japan. It was also introduced into Australia, New Zealand, and some Pacific islands. In 2017 it was found on sheep raised in the U.S. and has since been detected in 10 states (NEJM JW Infect Dis Feb 2019 and MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018; 67:1310). This tick is a vector for several human pathogens, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), which causes potentially fatal hemorrhagic fever, as well as a rickettsia causing Japanese spotted fever, and pathogens such as Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Borrelia, and other rickettsiae.

The current report describes a single person bitten by this tick in June 201…

Reviewing Author

Stephen G. Baum, MD

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Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

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Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Asian Tick Takes a Bite in the U.S.

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Reviewing Author