Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, have mapped the habitat of a specific soft tick species to strengthen preparedness for African swine fever (ASF). The study focuses on Ornithodoros turicata, a nest-dwelling tick found across large parts of Texas and the southwestern United States.
The research is part of a $1.4 million project funded by the Department of Homeland Security through the Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense Center of Excellence. The initiative aims to determine if populations of this long-lived soft tick in Texas could sustain or transmit the virus should it be introduced into domestic or wild pig populations.
Led by Dr. Meriam Saleh, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, and co-led by Dr. Dee Ellis, a veterinarian in AgriLife Research and the Department of Entomology, the project examines how tick presence might impact surveillance and outbreak control strategies. The study also considers the implications for the food supply, trade, and cross-border livestock movement.
Although ASF is not currently present in the United States, it exists in the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. The virus is highly contagious and often fatal to pigs. In countries where the disease has been introduced, outbreaks have resulted in mass depopulation of herds, long-term trade restrictions, and significant economic losses.
The U.S. pork industry contributes more than $50 billion annually to the national gross domestic product and supports over 550,000 jobs. The United States is a leading global pork exporter, and international trade relies heavily on maintaining disease-free status. Detection of ASF in the U.S. would likely trigger immediate export bans.
