Lone Star and Gulf Coast Ticks Discovered by Student at the University of Dubuque's Wolter Woods and Prairies

DUBUQUE, Iowa - When University of Dubuque student Paige Manning saw a tick crawling on her hand at Wolter Woods and Prairies Environmental Stewardship and Retreat Center, she immediately knew it wasn't a typical dog or deer tick found in the area. The friendly arachnid turned out to be the first-ever Lone Star tick discovered by UD researchers in Dubuque County.

It wasn't the only substantial tick discovery made over the summer.

While working as a land management intern at Wolter Woods and Prairies through the John and Alice Butler Summer Research Fellowship, Manning was shown a tick another intern had found on themselves that "had something off." It was the first Gulf Coast tick to be reported in Clayton County (the north part of Wolter Woods and Prairies is located in Clayton County).

"I was just very surprised," Manning said. "For the longest time, we only had the other two ticks - the dog and deer ticks - locally."

A senior biology major from Mendota, Illinois, Manning began to research ticks in summer 2024 through the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship. Her advisor, Kelly Grussendorf, PhD, head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and professor of biology at UD, has worked with students in the areas of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Eastern Iowa for eight years.

"We wouldn't know about these two 'new' ticks in the area if it wasn't for Paige! Truly," Grussendorf said. "We now know they are here, and likely here to stay and spread. And with them may come more possible pathogens and diseases. I do want to stress that we have only found the ticks, we don't know if the ones in this area do carry any pathogens or diseases; it is something we would have to continue with and test."

Earlier this month, Grussendorf and Manning formally reported the discovery of two Lone Star ticks and three Gulf Coast ticks at Wolter Woods and Prairies to the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Six specimens of the same species must be found in order for a tick to be considered established in an area.

The discovery of Gulf Coast ticks at Wolter Woods and Prairies was unexpected as they primarily are found in the southeastern United States.

"This one is completely new to Iowa," Grussendorf said.

The Gulf Coast tick prefers open grasslands, pastures, and the edges of woods. Those found at Wolter Woods and Prairies have been at the point where the wooded forest meets the prairie. Although it looks similar to the dog tick, the mouth parts of a Gulf Coast tick are larger and the back is more vibrant.

"It was a big surprise. I never really heard of it," Manning said.

While the Gulf Coast tick was a surprise, the Lone Star tick was not.

"The Lone Star tick had apparently been found and reported in Dubuque County in 1990, but having worked with ticks here for eight years, it was the first time our group found them," Grussendorf said.

The Gulf Coast and Lone Star ticks at Wolter Woods and Prairies have not been tested for the presence of pathogens yet. However, both tick species can carry a variety of pathogens. The Gulf Coast tick can cause a rickettsial infection in humans and carry other pathogens that can affect pets. The Lone Star tick has the potential to carry pathogens that can cause human diseases like ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and Alpha-Gal Syndrome, which can cause individuals to develop an allergy to red meat.

Grussendorf, who is known as the "tick girl" in certain circles, continues to be fascinated by ticks from how the numbers of ticks have changed in the time she's been researching them to how many different types of pathogens ticks can carry and transmit to organisms. Manning is also intrigued by the disease side of tick research.

"Ticks still gross me out," Manning said. "What I love learning about are the disease vectors and how ticks spread diseases."

In 2024, she was awarded a microgrant by the City of Dubuque through its participation in Bloomberg Philanthropies' Youth Climate Action Fund to share her research and increase awareness about vector-borne disease in Dubuque County. Manning identified over 700 ticks - mostly deer ticks - during summer 2024 alone. She estimates the number of ticks she has identified while a UD student has increased to upwards of 1,000.

"It gives me chills just thinking about how much Paige has grown and how exciting her future will be as she continues in the area of disease ecology. And, to be honest, maybe a smidge of jealousy of what cool things she is going to be able to do in her future," Grussendorf said. "Paige entered UD planning to pursue a degree in the health field, but then through her studies she found passion in disease ecology and has been locked in on that since then. She jumps at every opportunity to learn something that she can, and she is the one I rely on. In fact, I would trust her to ID a tick quicker than me - she has done a lot of work! She is a true scientist and thinks about things in a very unique way that will lead her to be very successful as she continues her education and then into her career."

When it comes to spending time in areas where ticks might live, Grussendorf said individuals should be aware, wear pants and sleeves, and use DEET repellents or permethrin treated clothing.

"One of the best things will be to check everywhere after being outside and to make sure to shower. And don't forget to give your pets tick prevention medication," she said.