A REVIEW OF TICKS (ACARI: IXODIDA), SURVEILLANCE AND COMMON TICK-BORNE DISEASES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, USA.

The scope of literature concerning tick-borne disease in South Dakota (SD) is limited primarily to case reports by public health officials. Published records of ticks occurring in the state are scarce and are mostly limited to reports of ticks opportunistically collected from wildlife, with little focus on surveillance for ticks themselves or potential pathogens. There exists only one published record with a compilation of the ticks of South Dakota (1983). Here, the current literature on the ticks of South Dakota, the pathogens they may carry, and their relevance and history in South Dakota are reviewed. Three new tick species documented in the state since the last publication are included herein, bringing the total number of tick species in the state to 21. I review and update past reports to include new county records and identification of pathogens previously undetected in the state and include some information on ongoing research involving ticks and tick-borne disease in the state. This manuscript and the projects referenced within were conducted with the goal of drawing attention to the need for tick surveillance in South Dakota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]