1. Ticks and Tick-Borne Illnesses of Alabama Emily Merritt and Dr. Graeme Lockaby Source: http://www.alexanderwild.com/Insects/Insect-Orders/Amazing-Arachnids/i-sfrZK2q/2/XL/Amblyomma2-XL.jpg

2. http://ujszo.com/sites/default/files/photos/promoted/killancsallatban.jpg http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/life_cycle_and_hosts.html http://www.billhubick.com/images/lonestar_tick_wi_md_20070727.jpg http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/02/01/female2_wide- f852898d0f116eabbe286f78c40ca664dc836945-s6-c30.jpg

3. http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/life_cycle_and_hosts.html Those who spend time outdoors are at risk of coming into contact with ticks

4. ? http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/http://www.media-group.com/images/Pacific-black-legged-tick-2.jpglife_cycle_and_hosts.html

5. Tick-Borne Illness in Alabama ▪ Ticks bite and infect humans, pets, and wildlife in Alabama  Symptoms treatable, can be life- threatening or long-lasting Not much known about contributing factors of tick distributions or tick-borne illness prevalence in Alabama Kelly Stevens, unpublished data ADPH reported cases of tick- borne illness, 1992-2014

6. Research Suggests… ▪ Warmer winters, enhanced host distributions  expanding tick and TBI distributions  extent? ▪ Urbanization  forest fragmentation  increased tick densities  TBI risk? ▪ Fertile soils  increased tick densities and TBI prevalence  specifics? http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4031/4279523656_f9f130337d_z.jpg?zz=1 http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z4s_kGJTI0g/ToEeiVDcLnI/AAAAAAAAEl0/yKIyz8Jwiyk/image%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800

7. ▪ We will improve understanding of Alabama ticks and tick-borne illnesses by identifying factors that affect their presence, distribution, and prevalence 3-year project Sample state and private lands: Cumberland Plateau, Ridge and Valley, Piedmont, Coastal Plain ▪Ticks and blood from wildlife Age, sex, weight ▪Tick cloth drags ▪Sweetgum foliage samples  soil fertility RMSF STARI Lyme Ehrlichiosis For This Project…

8. ▪ We will examine tick species/TBI-environmental relationships: For This Project… Physiography Elevation Climatic conditions Season Land use/cover Forest distribution/integrity Vegetation Soil fertility Burn regime Protected vs. hunted Hosts

9. ▪ Factors that contribute to presence, distribution, prevalence ▪ TBIs affect wildlife? ▪ Hotspot maps  locations and densities of ticks and their TBIs ▪ Predictive model for disease risk as a function of changing seasons, climate, habitats, extent and distribution of forests ▪ Public outreach  events, seminars, publications Products http://www.caliper.com/Maptitude/Crime/MotorVehicleTheft2.png Emily Merritt

10. ▪ Provide evidence that TBIs are present in wildlife throughout Alabama Implications for wildlife? humans?  Information for medical professionals, state and federal agencies ADCNR, ADPH, USFS, CDC  Arm residents with knowledge they need to avoid ticks, prevent illness, and get proper treatment  Extend research Goals

11. What We Need ▪ 3 years of funding ▪ Pathogen analysis: $24,000 More funding = more TBIs ▪ Travel costs: $15,000 Car, food, lodging ▪ Materials and supplies: $5,000 Safety #1 concern ▪ Foliar analysis: $2,000+ More funding = more samples http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/30/73/11/6533710/3/628x471.jpg

12. http://www.uark.edu/ua/arthmuse/images/museum_notes/Drtk100.jpg Thank You!