Range Modeling and Surveillance of Ornithodoros turicata Ticks: Implications for Detecting African Swine Fever Virus in the United States.

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Title: Range Modeling and Surveillance of Ornithodoros turicata Ticks: Implications for Detecting African Swine Fever Virus in the United States.
Authors: Butler, Christopher J.1 (AUTHOR), Garcia, Cora P.2 (AUTHOR), Mendoza, Alexa K.2 (AUTHOR), Akhand, Leila2 (AUTHOR), Neuman, Isaac2 (AUTHOR), Ellis, Dee B.3 (AUTHOR), Saleh, Meriam N.2 (AUTHOR) msaleh@cvm.tamu.edu
Source: Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Dec2025, Vol. 15 Issue 12, p1-11. 11p.
Subject Terms: *Ecological models, *Tick control, *Economic impact, African swine fever, Feral swine, Spatial analysis (Statistics)
Geographic Terms: Florida, United States, Texas
Abstract: African Swine Fever virus (ASFv) is a re‐emerging global swine disease that, if introduced to the United States, would cause severe economic consequences. The widespread presence of feral hogs in addition to the presence of competent tick vectors, specifically Ornithodoros turicata, fosters a greater risk of ASFv establishment. The specific aims of this study were to assess the geographic distribution of O. turicata, the spatial distribution of host species richness, and to identify localities that could be monitored for ASFv as part of a comprehensive surveillance system in the United States moving forward. A systematic literature review and field collections were conducted to identify O. turicata localities. Ticks were collected from 15/16 surveyed Texas counties and were identified using standard morphological keys and confirmed molecularly on a subset of ticks via amplification and sequencing of a 16S rRNA gene fragment. Ecological niche modeling was used to determine the suite of bioclimatic variables associated with the presence of O. turicata based on field collections and the literature review. Six variables of importance were identified: mean temperature of the warmest quarter, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, annual precipitation, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the warmest quarter, and elevation. Subsequently, a map was constructed of the potential distribution of this species, which stretched from southern California to Texas with an allopatric population in Florida. The majority of Texas, with the exclusion of the easternmost quarter of the state, appears to be highly suitable for this species. Host species richness was greatest in Florida and central Texas, suggesting that these regions should be subjected to targeted surveillance priorities. Furthermore, the presence of O. turicata in burrows occupied by feral common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) in south Texas is noteworthy, as warthogs are known to sustain ASFv in a sylvatic cycle in Africa. Establishing the current and projected distribution of O. turicata is essential to understanding the potential sylvatic cycle of ASFv and creating long‐term surveillance zones if ASFv is introduced to the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Range Modeling and Surveillance of Ornithodoros turicata Ticks: Implications for Detecting African Swine Fever Virus in the United States.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Butler%2C+Christopher+J%2E%22">Butler, Christopher J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Garcia%2C+Cora+P%2E%22">Garcia, Cora P.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mendoza%2C+Alexa+K%2E%22">Mendoza, Alexa K.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Akhand%2C+Leila%22">Akhand, Leila</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Neuman%2C+Isaac%22">Neuman, Isaac</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ellis%2C+Dee+B%2E%22">Ellis, Dee B.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Saleh%2C+Meriam+N%2E%22">Saleh, Meriam N.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> msaleh@cvm.tamu.edu</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 15 Issue 12, p1-11. 11p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+models%22">Ecological models</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tick+control%22">Tick control</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+impact%22">Economic impact</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22African+swine+fever%22">African swine fever</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Feral+swine%22">Feral swine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatial+analysis+%28Statistics%29%22">Spatial analysis (Statistics)</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Florida%22">Florida</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Texas%22">Texas</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: African Swine Fever virus (ASFv) is a re‐emerging global swine disease that, if introduced to the United States, would cause severe economic consequences. The widespread presence of feral hogs in addition to the presence of competent tick vectors, specifically Ornithodoros turicata, fosters a greater risk of ASFv establishment. The specific aims of this study were to assess the geographic distribution of O. turicata, the spatial distribution of host species richness, and to identify localities that could be monitored for ASFv as part of a comprehensive surveillance system in the United States moving forward. A systematic literature review and field collections were conducted to identify O. turicata localities. Ticks were collected from 15/16 surveyed Texas counties and were identified using standard morphological keys and confirmed molecularly on a subset of ticks via amplification and sequencing of a 16S rRNA gene fragment. Ecological niche modeling was used to determine the suite of bioclimatic variables associated with the presence of O. turicata based on field collections and the literature review. Six variables of importance were identified: mean temperature of the warmest quarter, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, annual precipitation, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the warmest quarter, and elevation. Subsequently, a map was constructed of the potential distribution of this species, which stretched from southern California to Texas with an allopatric population in Florida. The majority of Texas, with the exclusion of the easternmost quarter of the state, appears to be highly suitable for this species. Host species richness was greatest in Florida and central Texas, suggesting that these regions should be subjected to targeted surveillance priorities. Furthermore, the presence of O. turicata in burrows occupied by feral common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) in south Texas is noteworthy, as warthogs are known to sustain ASFv in a sylvatic cycle in Africa. Establishing the current and projected distribution of O. turicata is essential to understanding the potential sylvatic cycle of ASFv and creating long‐term surveillance zones if ASFv is introduced to the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1002/ece3.72738
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Ecological models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tick control
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economic impact
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      – SubjectFull: African swine fever
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      – SubjectFull: Feral swine
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      – SubjectFull: Spatial analysis (Statistics)
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      – SubjectFull: Florida
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      – SubjectFull: Texas
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      – TitleFull: Range Modeling and Surveillance of Ornithodoros turicata Ticks: Implications for Detecting African Swine Fever Virus in the United States.
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              Text: Dec2025
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