For the first time, a potentially deadly tick-borne disease has made its mark on Iowa’s beef industry.
State officials confirmed that Theileria orientalis Ikeda—a parasite transmitted by the invasive Asian longhorned tick—has infected a cattle herd in Van Buren County.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture labeled it a first-of-its-kind case for the state, sounding alarm bells across the livestock community.
“This is new territory,” the department said, urging farmers to tighten biosecurity and monitor for signs of infection.
The parasite targets red and white blood cells, triggering bovine infectious anemia. In severe cases, it can lead to death.
Common symptoms include fatigue, fever, jaundice, and respiratory distress. Pregnant cows may also abort. While the disease doesn’t affect humans, its impact on cattle can be economically devastating.
There’s another twist: there’s no approved treatment for the Ikeda strain in the U.S.
Tick control, then, becomes the frontline defense. But experts warn—standard insecticide ear tags won’t cut it.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach emphasized the need for aggressive prevention tactics and veterinarian support.
“We’re dealing with an unwelcome visitor,” said an ISU spokesperson. The Asian longhorned tick, native to East Asia, has only recently crept into Iowa, hitching a ride across regions with warmer climates and growing immunity to basic controls.
For now, vigilance is key. Farmers are being asked to act fast, think smart, and protect their herds before this invisible enemy spreads further across the state.
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