A recent headline in the Chatham Star Tribune is getting the attention of cattle farmers in Bedford County.
“Tick borne disease could impact cattle in Pittsylvania County”

Cattle owners in Pittsylvania County are invited to an informational meeting about the Asian Longhorned Tick, which carries bovine anemia, or Theileria orientalis.

The disease can cause late term abortions, still borne calves and cow deaths.

Cattle owners should take note that by the time symptoms show, it is a herd problem rather than an individual animal issue. Symptoms typically begin to show one to eight weeks after infection and symptoms will escalate with stress or when cows are in late gestation.

Once only found in Australia/New Zeland, the Asian Long-horned Tick is now sweeping across the East Coast of the United States. It was first reported in the United States in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

“Theileria has been diagnosed in nine states. These states include Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and Kansas. Theileria is spreading rapidly in the Eastern U.S.  It will likely continue this spread,” according to Dr. John Currin, DVM with the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

Due to the rapid spread of this disease and its effects on cattle in this area, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Pittsylvania County will be hosting an informational meeting on Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex.  Currin and Dr. Paul Erwin with the Chatham Animal Clinic will be delivering information on this topic. For more information, contact Becky Roberts,VCE Pittsylvania County at 434-432-7770 or at rebrob@vt.edu.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Pittsylvania County Extension Office at 434-432-7770 or at the *TDD number is 800-828-1120) during business hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.