George Hamilton, professor and extension specialist, retired from Rutgers on January 1, 2026.

Effective January 1, George Hamilton GSNB’85, extension specialist in pest management and professor in the Department of Entomology, retired from Rutgers University, concluding a distinguished 38-year career marked by excellence in extension, research, teaching and service to the university and the agricultural community.

A member of the faculty since 1987, Hamilton made significant contributions to the fields of entomology, pesticide safety education, and the management of invasive insects affecting agriculture in New Jersey. He served as chair of the Department of Entomology for 15 years and held numerous university and statewide advisory roles related to pesticide regulation, environmental protection and agricultural policy.

Trained as an environmental biologist and entomologist, Hamilton earned his doctoral degree in entomology from Rutgers in 1985. Over the course of his career, he authored more than 200 research and extension publications addressing integrated pest management, pesticide use and environmental protection.

Through his work with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Hamilton became widely recognized for advancing pesticide safety education and integrated pest management programs that support New Jersey’s agricultural industries while protecting environmental and public health. His extension efforts reached thousands of growers, professionals and residents each year through workshops, training programs and outreach presentations.

Among his many contributions, Hamilton played a key role in statewide and national efforts to manage the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, a pest that threatens fruit, vegetable and specialty crops. His research helped improve monitoring and management strategies and contributed to multi-state integrated pest management initiatives aimed at reducing the pest’s impact on agriculture.

He also led and supported the development of integrated pest management programs for a range of crops in New Jersey, including tree fruit, vegetables, blueberries and field crops. These programs helped growers reduce pesticide use while maintaining crop productivity and environmental stewardship.

Nationally, Hamilton was an active leader in the Entomological Society of America, serving as treasurer and president of the Eastern Branch and completing two terms on the ESA Board of Governors.

During his career, Hamilton received numerous state, national and international honors, including awards from the ESA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizing his contributions to research, extension and integrated pest management programs.

 

Adult female Asian longhorned ticks attached to vegetation and waiting for a host to come by. Photo: Jim Occi.

A pair of new studies led by researchers at the Rutgers Center for Vector Biology use genetic data to help trace the potential routes of introduction of the invasive (ALT), Haemaphysalis longicornis, into the United States, and to identify potential vaccine targets within the tick that can be exploited to protect vulnerable livestock populations.

While this tick is native to China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, one lineage in particular is rapidly spreading through multiple countries, including Australia, New Zealand and various Pacific Islands. This lineage has the rare ability to reproduce without the presence of male ticks, a phenomenon known as parthenogenesis.

In 2017, the presence of parthenogenetic Asian longhorned ticks in the U.S. was first reported in New Jersey, said Dana Price, assistant professor in the Department of Entomology. However, historical samples have now shown evidence of the ticks’ establishment as early as 2010 in West Virginia. As vectors of Theileria orientalis—a parasitic livestock pathogen—H. longicornis poses a substantial threat to U.S. livestock. 

Assistant professor Dana Price in the lab.

In the first study, published in Ecology and Evolution, researchers led by Price and doctoral student Zoe Narvaez, utilized genome sequence data from the tick’s mitochondrion (or mitogenomics) to determine the source and frequency of ALT introductions to the U.S. By comparing DNA from hundreds of Asian longhorned tick samples from different regions in the U.S. to those of native and invasive samples from East Asia and Oceania, the authors were able to determine that there were very likely at least four separate introduction events to the United States from particular regions in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Global economic losses due to tick-borne diseases are estimated at $22-30 billion annually. To mitigate such huge losses, chemical acaricides are routinely used to control ticks, including ALT, on and around livestock, companion animals, and humans.  Reliance on chemical treatments alone can result in the development of resistance in tick populations. Vaccines administered to animal hosts (cows, for example) that prime the host immune system to generate “anti-tick antibodies” that are in turn delivered to the tick as it feeds on host blood represent novel and emerging tools for tick control in conjunction with acaricide treatments.

In their paper published in BMC Genomics, Price and postdoctoral research associate Mohamed Moustafa, in conjunction with collaborators at USDA-ARS and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, sequenced the complete genome of North American H. longicornis ticks and screened more than 21,000 of its genes to identify those that the cattle immune system would recognize as “foreign” (or antigenic) to induce antibody production.

The Price lab has currently moved four such genes to the next step in the process, which involves assessment of reproductive capacity and/or morbidity in the tick when each gene is silenced using RNA interference.

“These studies are a critical step toward protecting livestock producers in the United States,” said Price. “By tracing the origins of this invasive species and identifying genetic weak points to exploit with emerging technologies, we’re developing tools that could ultimately transform how we manage ticks and the diseases they carry.”

References:
Narvaez, Z.E., Egizi, A.M., Yabsley, M.J., Thompson, A.T., Moustafa, M.A.^**, Alt, E., Bickerton, M., Bjorgo, K., Butler, R.A., Cumbie, A., Eastwood, G., Falco, R.C., Fonseca, D.M., Hang, J., Harper, V.L., Lewis, N., Lovy, J., Maestas, L.P., Mather, T.N., Nakao, R., Occi, J.L., Rainey, T., Sal, M., Stoops, C.A., Trout-Fryxell, R.T., Watson, W., Wagner, N.E., Zheng, A., Saelao, P., & Price, D.C. (2025). Multiple introductions of the Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) to the United States revealed using mitogenomics. Ecology and Evolution, 15(4): e71312, 14pp. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71312 

Moustafa M.A., Barnes M.M., Wagner N.E., Bodine D., Bendele K., Teel P.D., Saelao P., Price D.C. (2025). Genome of the invasive North American Haemaphysalis longicornis tick as a template for bovine anti-tick vaccine discovery. BMC genomics, 26(1):307.

 

Cesar Rodriguez-Saona.

The Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management recognizes outstanding contributions to IPM, with special consideration for independence of thought and originality. Rodriguez-Saona’s research on IPM in blueberry and cranberry crops has provided growers with practical, science-based tools to manage insect pests while reducing reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides. His work has significantly advanced the use of behavior-based strategies, biological control, and reduced-risk insecticides.

Through his extension program, Rodriguez-Saona has reached hundreds of growers across New Jersey and beyond, promoting sustainable pest management practices that enhance both the economic and environmental sustainability of berry production systems. He has delivered more than 300 presentations to growers, crop consultants, extension agents, and researchers nationally and internationally. His outreach efforts include field days, grower meetings, newsletter articles and educational videos focused on pest identification and management.

“I am honored to receive the Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management from the Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues, growers, research collaborators, and funding agencies for their invaluable support of my work in insect pest management research and extension,” said Rodriguez-Saona.

Changlu Wang at work implementing integrated pest management in multi-family housing.

The Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension recognizes outstanding contributions in the area of extension and demonstrated excellent performance through program creativity, impact, achievement and delivery. Wang’s research on IPM in apartment buildings have provided practical solutions on how to implement IPM in multi-family housing and the benefit of IPM for reducing indoor health risk including pests, pest allergens, and insecticide residues. His extension program has reached thousands of low-income homes throughout New Jersey and other states, with the goal of reducing pest problems and environmental risks in the urban environment, improve quality of life and protect public health. Wang has also presented numerous talks to pest management professionals, housing staff, public health workers in the U.S. and internationally.

“I feel honored to receive this prestigious award from the Eastern Branch of ESA. I am thankful to the colleagues, housing authorities, funding agencies for supporting my effort in urban pest management research and extension,” said Wang.

As part of a broad-based urban pest management outreach program, Wang has produced several highly impactful bed bug videos with the most popular video receiving 47 million views.

 

Zoe Narvaez presenting statewide tick-borne pathogen surveillance results at the 2024 meeting of the New Jersey Mosquito Control Association, Atlantic City, NJ.

Zoe Narvaez, a PhD candidate in Entomology and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, was awarded a travel grant by the Northeastern Mosquito Control Association (NMCA) to present the findings of her dissertation at their 2024 annual meeting in Plymouth, Massachusetts this month. In late 2023, the NMCA awarded Narvaez the Jobbins Scholarship, which honors outstanding research in vector biology.

For her doctoral dissertation, Narvaez has been researching the ecology of tick-borne diseases in the “fragmented” forests of New Jersey. Her findings reveal another layer to the folly of urban sprawl – that the rich patchwork of undisturbed forests and preserves, cherished as respites from the downsides of urban and suburban life, may be incubators for tick-borne pathogens like those causing Lyme disease and Powassan virus.

“NJ has the highest density of preserved parkland in the contiguous U.S. We have so many small, isolated urban forests – tick habitats adjacent to where we live and work,” said Narvaez. “There’s a growing body of evidence that when you fragment forests and habitats, there can be changes in the abundance of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Some worry that human development may be driving more intense tick-borne disease.”

An undergraduate entomology researcher collects host-seeking ticks from dense foliage through the “flagging” method at Cheesequake State Park, July 2023.

Narvaez also presented this work at the November 2024 meeting of the Entomological Society of America in Phoenix, AZ where she won first place in the “Ecology, Vector Biology, and Management” graduate competition section for the second year in a row.

“I’ve always been interested in diseases transmitted by bugs,” said Narvaez, whose work in vector biology started when she was in high school working in mosquito control, helping to kill larvae. “The diseases are really complex and have to be very clever and insidious to evade the immune systems of both the bug and the animal.”

Fortuitously, her employer from high school introduced her to her PhD advisor at Rutgers. Narvaez studied public health at the University of Oklahoma as an undergraduate and plans to complete her PhD in the spring of 2025.

 

Honeybee pollinating blueberries. Photo courtesy of Cesar Rodriguez-Saona.

Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, extension specialist in entomology, Department of Entomology, is the principal investigator of a two-year, $199,783 grant from the USDA Crop Protection and Pest Management program for the project, “Improving Management of a Key Insect Pest of Blueberries Through Optimization of Pollination Services,” from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2026.

Plum curculio adult on blueberry fruit. Photo courtesy of Cesar Rodriguez-Saona.

This grant is part of a $20 million investment by the Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) program to address high priority issues related to pests, including insects, nematodes, pathogens, and weeds, and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The program supports projects that will increase food security and respond effectively to other major societal challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, ecologically prudent, and safe for human health.

Rodriguez-Saona and Rutgers post-doc Beth Ferguson, who is co-principal investigator on the grant-funded project, are investigating an integrated pest and pollinator management strategy for plum curculio, a persistent pest of blueberries in the mid-Atlantic. This pest damages the blueberry fruit through a scar left by feeding damage and from laying eggs, resulting in premature fruit drop from larvae.

Rutgers post-doc Beth Ferguson, in the field.

Management can be conducted post-bloom, but pesticides cannot be applied while honeybees are present, explained Rodriguez-Saona.

“Because plum curculio adults arrive in blueberries around peak bloom, growers cannot adequately respond to increasing populations. Honeybee hives are currently kept in blueberries until the end of bloom, but whether this contributes significantly to yields is not known. The benefits of removing hives early to increase yields and better manage plum curculio may outweigh any effects on late-season fruit production.”

The overall goal of the funded project is to use plum curculio management as a model for effective creation and implementation of integrated pest and pollinator management strategies in pollinator-dependent crops.

 

In an ever more connected world, scientists say that the appearance of invasive insects, such as the spotted lanternfly, should be expected.
A. Nielsen

In 2003, Anne Nielsen became the first doctoral student in the U.S. to study the brown marmorated stink bug, which was beginning its ascendancy as an invasive species notoriously damaging to crops.

Working with her mentor, Rutgers entomologist George Hamilton, Nielsen traced the stink bug’s life cycle and origins. By the time the stink bug populations exploded in 2009-2010, Nielsen and Hamilton were in a unique position to advise farmers on countermeasures.

Now an associate professor in the Department of Entomology in the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), Nielsen is also an Extension Specialist in tree fruit, with a special focus on invasive species like stink bugs and spotted lanternflies and their effects on fruit crops. Her goal is to protect the natural world by developing sustainable management practices.

After a morning spent with students in a peach orchard at the Rutgers Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Bridgeton, N.J., Nielsen discussed the threat of invasive species and the continuing effort to contain them.

Rutgers entomologist Anne Nielsen (second from right) employs a peach orchard at the Rutgers Agriculture Research Extension Center in Bridgeton as a natural laboratory. (From left) Tara Esposito, a Moorestown Friends School student, SEBS sophomore Abigail McFarland, Nielsen and Ann Rucker, a tree fruit entomology technician, collect invasive insects for study. Anne Nielsen.

What are invasive species?

An invasive species is a non-native species that is causing economic or ecological harm. They are more than just minor annoyances. They can cause major economic damage each year.

Invasive species are not going away. They are part of our lives because the world is so connected now. It’s something we need to continue to confront because it’s going to keep happening.

You just spent hours in a peach orchard with your students. What were you studying?

I’m out there looking at the whole system, the ecological environment. We look at the fruit trees, the grass underneath and the woods surrounding the orchard, and think about the natural enemies present. We take the whole picture into account and fit puzzle pieces together.

We study the biology of invasive insects so that we can figure out when they’re present and identify the correct timings for management. We also look at their behavior. We’ve done a lot of work looking at how they move across the surrounding landscape and within an orchard, and then we can exploit that behavior for management. We’ve found what we call border spray techniques, so we can reduce the amount of area in the orchard that is sprayed with pesticides. This is part of the strategy we are developing to incorporate biological techniques that are more environmentally friendly.

You are engaged in an ongoing battle against invasive species. What are the stakes?

New Jersey is the Garden State; agriculture is at the heart of who we are. These invasive species come in and they change our production practices, how we view agriculture and insects. Insects get vilified. We must balance our management of invasive insects with consumer demands for clean fruit and less pesticides.

Peach crops, and fruit crops in general, can be destroyed by invasive species. New Jersey is the number four growing region for peaches in the country. At the height of the marmorated stink bug infestation from 2010 to 2011, we lost 60 percent of our peach crops.

We also have a lot of apple orchards and wine vineyards that are vulnerable to these pests, as well as farms with equally imperiled small fruits like blueberries and raspberries. These crops are tied to a lot of people’s livelihoods and provide great economic value to the state.

When we think of economic loss from invasive insects, we see there are multiple factors driving that phenomenon, including some that incur hidden costs. There’s an invasive fruit fly called spotted wing drosophila that is a major pest of small fruit like blueberries and raspberries. I know growers who have pulled up all their raspberry plants. One wine grape grower handpicks stink bugs out of the grapes on the processing line before crushing the grapes to maintain high quality wines.

How do invasive species get here?

There are a lot of different routes of introduction for an invasive species. The most common one that we see is associated with shipping containers and global trade. We have a lot of ports of entry in this region. New Jersey and most of the mid-Atlantic are so densely populated that farms are often near urban areas, forming what we call the agro-urban interface, increasing the odds of invasive species reaching crop areas.

When you refer to achieving a balance in nature, what do you mean?

Invasive insect species, such as the brown marmorated stink bug, are believed to have arrived in the U.S. through international shipping containers. Anne Nielsen

We had been looking at marmorated stink bugs for some time before they reached outbreak levels. We had a couple of bad years and then the populations naturally declined. A lot of invasive species exhibit these boom-and-bust cycles in their populations. Several factors come together – the environment starts pushing back, scientists develop new methods – and we’re able to reduce the population.

What sort of natural controls are evolving for the brown marmorated stink bug?

A lot of our focus now is on biological control of the stink bug using a parasitoid species – a tiny stingless wasp about the size of a poppy seed. They lay their eggs inside stink bug eggs. When those eggs hatch, they destroy the stink bug eggs. This has the potential to help control populations over time in a more sustainable manner.

We have done a few small releases of the wasps with farmers in New Jersey and at the Rutgers research station. We’re still working out the method’s biological impact.

How did you get involved in spotted lanternfly research?

The lanternfly was first detected in New Jersey in 2018 and in Pennsylvania a few years before that. Most of the explosive growth of the lanternfly coincided with the pandemic.

We studied it in Pennsylvania early on, learning how to identify it, and understand what trees it liked. In 2019, we started receiving significant reports from farmers in New Jersey about infestations in wine grapes.

In collaboration with Julie Lockwood, [a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources at SEBS], we devised a method identifying lanternflies through genetic signatures. We were able to combine this detection method to inform our growers during the pandemic and reducing pesticide use by figuring out the best materials to use and the best times to spray. And we’re still battling them.

We are actively looking for biological control approaches to limit the lanternfly population and have found a few candidates. But we are still figuring this out.

This article first appeared in Rutgers Today.

 

Anne Nielsen is an Associate Extension Specialist in Entomology at Rutgers–New Brunswick. Courtesy of Anne Nielsen.

Rutgers groundbreaking women researchers are making history and making a difference in the world every day. From serving as mission head for NASA’s next space telescope to creating nanorobots to target disease and studying the survival of orangutans in Borneo – one of our closest living relatives – they are advancing our understanding of the natural and physical world around us.

For Women’s History Month, Rutgers Today asked some of Rutgers acclaimed scientists to share their own history of what inspired them to enter their field. Among them is Anne Nielsen, Associate Extension Specialist in Entomology at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

Here is her story.

Somewhere in my parent’s house is a childhood video of me explaining the 17-year cicada life cycle to my much less enthused friends. I didn’t know it then, but this was an early insight into what grew into a love of insects (bugs specifically). 

I grew up in a family where a passion for science was a thread that bound us together. We lived outdoors as we gardened, hiked and vacationed in national parks. Through these experiences, I gained an appreciation for the natural sciences and was convinced I would spend my adult life as a National Geographic photographer lying in wait for the perfect lion picture. That dream meandered a bit to something a bit more practical as a physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon but I didn’t lose my love of the outdoors. 

I was first exposed to entomology while studying biology at Virginia Tech where I assisted in honeybee research. These tiny animals quickly fascinated me with their intricate behaviors and connections. However, it took a three-year break after college before the pull of entomology and the outdoors was too great, and I started a doctoral program at Rutgers with George Hamilton studying the life history of an invasive stink bug species. While my route to becoming a ‘Woman in Science’ wasn’t linear, the culmination of my experiences allowed me to appreciate the opportunities that led me here. Now as an extension specialist and associate professor in Entomology at Rutgers, I can integrate my passion for protecting our natural world through studying sustainable management practices to protect tree fruit from insects.  

Anne Nielsen’s story first appeared in a Women’s History Month feature in Rutgers Today.

 

Spotted Lanterflies. Courtesy of Anne Nielsen.

Rutgers entomologists explain what may have happened to the invasive species in New Jersey

Students strolling through Busch campus at Rutgers University–New Brunswick last fall were greeted by a slew of spotted lanternflies – invasive insects who huddled outside of the Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering and other buildings like anxious, early morning shoppers on Black Friday. 
 
So far this season, the bugs – who in past years made local headlines and were the subject of a pub crawl in Bordentown – don’t seem to be around as much in some parts of New Jersey. 

What happened to the spotted lanternflies, whose destructive-to-plants tendencies have drawn concern from state officials and the agricultural industry? 

Two Rutgers entomologists – George Hamilton, an Extension Specialist in Pest Management with the Department of Entomology at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and Anne Nielsen, an Associate Extension Specialist in Entomology – provided some insights on why these winged invaders seem to be in far fewer numbers around these parts this season. 

George Hamilton is an Extension Specialist in Pest Management with the Department of Entomology at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.
Courtesy of George Hamilton.

Where are the spotted lanternflies in New Jersey this season? What’s happened to them? 

Hamilton: They are pretty much distributed throughout the state and the whole state is now under quarantine. Having said that, in many areas the numbers are lower than they have been the last two years. The reasons are unclear.  

Possible reasons could be the hot dry weather we had last summer, the severe cold we had in January or the relatively warm weather we had during most of the winter. It could also be that the high populations have severely damaged or killed their host plants causing them to move on. 

What factors might be affecting spotted lanternfly populations in the state? Has nature evolved to combat these invasive insects? 

Hamilton: Possibilities include climatic factors, natural predation and parasitism (although at low levels), disease and human actions. 

Have we learned anything new about spotted lanternflies since their arrival to the state? Anything surprising? 

Anne Nielsen is an Associate Extension Specialist in Entomology at Rutgers–New Brunswick. Courtesy of Anne Nielsen.

Nielsen: The spotted lanternfly has a wider host range than we initially expected, but it includes mostly hardwood trees. Most significantly, the spotted lanternfly’s impact to agriculture has not been as widespread as initially predicted. We are seeing impacts to grape production and some nursery crops, but agricultural impacts are mostly limited to these commodities. 

Where are spotted lanternflies now in their growth-cycle stage? 

Hamilton: Populations for the most part are now adults, however fourth instars (red, black and white individuals) can still be found. 

How are we dealing with spotted lanternflies? How do we counteract their presence? 

Nielsen: There are multiple approaches to combating the spotted lanternfly. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture established a quarantine early in its detection in the state. This allowed them to selectively treat tree of heaven, a preferred host plant, and distribute information to the general public to reduce human-aided movement. 

To manage the pest long-term, we will need a multi-life stage approach that likely includes trapping for the nymphal stages on preferred host trees like the red maple, black walnut and tree of heaven. The United States Department of Agriculture-developed circle trap is easy to make and can remove thousands of young nymphs. Adult management likely requires insecticide treatment by trained professionals on hardwood trees and by commercial grape growers. Scraping of egg masses may help but will only remove about 10 percent to 20 percent of eggs on a tree.

Long-term solutions will include biological control with species that target lanternflies after more research and screening is conducted. 

This article originally appeared in Rutgers Today.

 

NJ Ticks for Science Booth with Sean Leonard and Siddartha Suppiah.

“New Jersey Ticks 4 Science!” is a citizen-led initiative aiming to create a tick map showing the distribution of tick species and tick-borne pathogens across New Jersey by zip code. Ticks encountered by those working, living, or traveling in the state will be identified from pictures submitted to the NJ Ticks 4 Science website. Ticks mailed-in will be tested for important tick-borne pathogens.

“A map showing tick species occurrence and pathogen status, including new species, will be a resource to scientists and healthcare professionals developing solutions for the enormous burden that ticks currently exert on public health” stated project coordinator Emily Fontaine.

Starting this year, NJ Ticks 4 Science will disclose pathogen testing results back to the submitters. Pathogen testing will differ depending on the tick species. For example, only blacklegged ticks transmit Lyme disease bacteria and Powassan virus; lone star ticks may carry one of two Ehrlichia bacteria.

To submit a tick, visit the NJ Ticks 4 Science website and complete the tick form accessible through the “send us your ticks” button on the homepage. The form asks for details about where and when the tick was found and prompts submitters to attach clear pictures of their tick. Submitters receive a unique identification (ID) number, allowing them to receive information about their tick’s species and pathogen status.

Within 48 hours or less, NJ Ticks 4 Science’s tick experts will review the submitted pictures. In most cases just a picture submission will inform a submitter about their tick species, life stage, sex (if adults), and blood engorgement status, which is linked to transmission risk.

After completing a form, submitters will be told where to mail their physical specimen. It is advised to place the tick in a plastic baggie labeled with the unique ID number or tape the tick to a piece of paper with the ID number. Place the saved tick in an envelope and use the address provided. Please refrain from including personal information as the survey is anonymous but the ID number is essential to connect the online entry with the mailed specimen.

Female blacklegged tick (sometimes called “deer tick”). Photo credit Jim Occi.

It currently takes a few weeks to receive the pathogen testing results. As the service is free and requires the use of expensive materials, testing many ticks simultaneously is most cost-effective. Therefore, the more ticks that are submitted the faster pathogen testing results will be released. Help NJ Ticks 4 Science speed up the process by sending in your ticks and spreading the word about their program!

Over the past year, the NJ Ticks 4 Science team has developed new educational tick materials and conducts regular outreach events. Look for their booth at Rutgers Cook’s Market on most Fridays. They are also partnering with NJAES Extension offices and the Master Gardeners to have a presence in county fairs. Feel free to approach them with any tick-related inquiries and pick up some of their “swag,” including free tick removers, tick cards, educational brochures, flyers, and stickers.

For more information, please visit https://ticks.rutgers.edu

 

Lone Star Tick. Photo: Jim Occi, Center for Vector Biology.

A recent report in the Journal of Medical Entomology has important public health implications for New Jersey, which only recently joined a select number of states to discover an emerging virus in populations of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum L.). The report was co-authored by Dana Price and Nicole Wagner from the Dept. of Entomology, and Andrea Egizi and Robert Jordan from the Monmouth County Tick-borne Disease Program.

Bourbon virus (BRBV) is a human pathogen that was first isolated from a symptomatic individual in Bourbon County, Kansas, who subsequently died of the illness.  Since that time, human cases have been confirmed in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

The virus is likely to be transmitted to humans via the bite of the lone star tick and was very recently detected in a survey of these ticks in New York state. To assess the potential presence and abundance of BRBV in New Jersey lone star ticks, researchers from the Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology and Monmouth County Tick-borne Disease Program screened over 1,200 specimens and detected BRBV in three individual ticks, while also generating a complete genome sequence of the virus from a single infected tick.

Lone star ticks will readily feed on deer, and researchers in New York state found that greater than 60% of deer from many Long Island sites had been exposed to the virus.  Exactly how so many deer were exposed, and whether ticks were ultimately responsible for transmission remains an unanswered question. We don’t yet have such data for New Jersey, but it will be an important aspect in determining what influences local Bourbon virus cycles.

It is important to note that only five human cases of BRBV have been confirmed in the U.S., and a very small fraction of ticks have tested positive in both New York and New Jersey.  The likelihood of encountering an infected tick thus appears to remain exceedingly low. However, this virus is only one of several tick-borne pathogens that are increasing their known range and/or abundance throughout the Northeastern United States. 

Residents are always encouraged to follow CDC guidelines for reducing tick bites during and after outdoor activities.  New Jersey residents exposed to ticks can submit them to our citizen science project, NJ Ticks 4 Science and contribute to our understanding of human-tick exposures.

Read about the research in the abstract appearing in the Journal of Medical Entomology.