253 - Wyoming’s first tick surveillance and pathogen testing program: Initial collections & Colorado Tick Fever Virus infection results

Abstract: Tick-borne disease threats are increasing in the United States, driven by factors such as vector range expansion, changing climate, emerging pathogens, and land use change. Historically, long-term tick surveillance was lacking in the state of Wyoming. In response to increasing threats of tick-borne disease and an absence of tick data, Teton County Weed & Pest District (TCWP) initiated the first tick and tick pathogen surveillance program for Wyoming in 2023. Elements of the new program included community outreach & education, tick surveillance, and pathogen testing in-house at the TCWP laboratory. During this presentation, early efforts of the program will be discussed, including establishing standardized surveillance methods for the sagebrush steppe habitat, widespread active and passive surveillance strategies, determining if the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis) had indeed established in the state, as well as 2023-24 tick collection and infection rate data for Colorado Tick Fever Virus (CTFV).