Study Highlights Effective Communication Strategies to Prevent Tick-Borne Diseases In Florida Cattle Industry?

Jan 09, 2026

By Meredith Bauer-Mitchell

If you’re working with the Florida cattle industry and you’re trying to spread information about tick-borne illnesses, the best way to get your message across is using prevention-focused messages, rather than fear.

That’s the takeaway from a new study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research by University of Florida researchers.

Ticks, especially Asian longhorn ticks, present a unique threat to cattle in Florida. In addition to weakening cattle through anemia and weight loss, Asian longhorn ticks spread diseases like bovine theileriosis, an illness spread by a blood-borne parasite, which can have a wide death rate of between 1% to 50% of a herd, according to the USDA.

While Asian longhorn ticks have been prevalent in the Northeast since 2017, they’ve been spreading more into the South in recent years, according to the USDA.

Researchers have been looking at which online messages resonate with the cattle industry about tick prevention in order to help communicators tailor messages about this threat, said Lauri Baker, UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor of agricultural communication.

Source : ufl.edu

Video: Five Confirmed New World Screwworm Cases Raise Alarm for Livestock and Pet Owners

Pat Hoffmann, Swine Technical Consultant at Elanco Animal Health tells us about the impact of New World Screwworm. The emergence of New World screwworm in the U.S. creates a threat for veterinarians, livestock producers and pet owners that has not been seen north of the Florida Keys since the fly was eradicated from the United States more than 50 years ago. New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae feed on living tissue and can affect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, companion animals, wildlife, and even humans.
“New World screwworm could have a devastating impact on animal health, welfare, and producer livelihoods,” said Jeff Simmons, President and CEO, Elanco Animal Health. “We want to thank the FDA, EPA and USDA, for all their work to prepare for this threat. We’re committed to supporting our customers during this challenging time by delivering innovation, scientific expertise, and available resources to help treat New World screwworm and support the health and well-being of animals.”
Elanco is working alongside the U.S. animal health industry to help them fight against this parasite, offering a portfolio of options for pets and livestock that can help treat New World screwworm larvae infestations.