Asian longhorned tick found in Kentucky

BLUE ASH, Ohio (WKRC) - The Asian longhorned tick was recently spotted in Kentucky.

"It’s the newest invader to the United States, first discovered in 2017,” Dr. Zeke Zekoff with Towne Square Animal Clinic said. “It’s never been found in the western hemisphere before, but all of a sudden they are finding it.”

What makes the Asian Longhorned tick so unique is its ability to reproduce without mating, allowing females to lay as many as 2,000 eggs on a pet.

“I would suggest getting a flee comb and basically what you’ll want to do is carefully look,” Dr. Zekoff said.

The most common area to look is around a dog’s head area. “So ears, behind the ears, around the face, you should really check carefully,” Dr. Zekoff said. “You’ll want to look inside the ear.

"It’s a very common place - inside the ears or behind the ears. They thrust their head and front legs through the bushes, which is where you’ll also most commonly see it.”

Prevention is just as important as spotting and killing ticks and several topical products are available on the market.