A relatively recent (labeled as an emerging threat) red blood cell parasite has now been diagnosed in calves in Kansas. The parasite, Theileria orientalis ikeda, was originally detected in 2017 in Virginia but has been making a steady march across the United States and is now identified in at least 16 U.S. states.

In one Kansas case, the calves were purchased on the East Coast and imported into Kansas for feeding. The disease is spread through multi-use needles and insect vectors. The primary vector is the Asian long-horned tick, a relatively new tick in the U.S. The tick has not yet been found in Kansas, but has been found in Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

Theileria orientalis is a tickborne protozoan parasite affecting red and white blood cells, causing bovine infectious anemia. This condition, known as theileriosis, presents symptoms similar to anaplasmosis in cattle, including anemia , jaundice, and weakness. While native genotypes of T. orientalis in the United States are typically nonpathogenic, the virulent Ikeda genotype has emerged as a significant concern.

While some species of Theileria , such as T. parva and T. annulata , are reportable to the World Organisation for Animal Health, T. orientalis is currently not classified as reportable. Importantly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that there are no known risks to human health from T. orientalis , but its impact on cattle health and the livestock industry is profound.

The emergence of the virulent Ikeda genotype poses challenges for cattle producers, particularly in regions with established populations of the Asian longhorned tick. Theileriosis can lead to significant economic losses due to cattle mortality, reduced productivity, and increased veterinary costs. Producers are urged to monitor their herds for symptoms and consult veterinarians promptly for diagnosis and management strategies.

Since 2017, T. orientalis Ikeda has been confirmed in cattle in at least 16 states, including Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. Its steady movement across the country correlates with the presence of the invasive Asian longhorned tick, a primary vector of the disease. Initially native to eastern Asia, this tick has been identified in 19 states , thriving in diverse habitats and spreading due to its ability to reproduce both sexually and through parthenogenesis.

Theileriosis primarily affects pregnant heifers and calves, with mortality rates reaching up to 5 percent in infected herds. Clinical signs include anemia, mucosal pallor, elevated heart and respiratory rates, weakness, reluctance to walk, and, in some cases, abortion. While cattle breeds like Wagyu in Japan exhibit reduced susceptibility, other breeds and younger animals remain highly vulnerable.

Cattle recovering from T. orientalis infections typically become chronic carriers, potentially serving as reservoirs for the parasite. The introduction of naïve cattle to endemic areas or infected animals into previously unaffected herds exacerbates the risk, especially when competent tick vectors are present.

Infected ticks transmit the parasite to cattle through their saliva during feeding. Sporozoites, the infective stage, develop in ticks feeding on infected hosts, completing the transmission cycle. High environmental temperatures can accelerate the maturation of sporozoites, increasing the risk of infection. Once introduced, ticks carrying T. orientalis can persist on pastures for up to two years under favorable conditions.

The USDA notes that as T. orientalis Ikeda continues its spread across the U.S., containment and management strategies are critical. Preventing further tick proliferation, monitoring cattle herds for early signs of theileriosis, and implementing advanced diagnostic tools are essential steps in mitigating this emerging threat to the cattle industry.

 Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) are proud to introduce the first Women on the Wing Chapter in Kansas. The Kansas Prairie Women on the Wing Chapter will provide women with a dedicated space to bond, collaborate, share experiences and influence upland conservation efforts together.

Unique among national conservation organizations, chapters of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever retain 100 percent decision-making control over fundraising dollars, allowing volunteers to support impactful wildlife habitat projects, public access initiatives and conservation education programs throughout the upland bird range. PF & QF’s east central Kansas regional representative, Mika Rezac, will work closely with the new chapter to support the organization’s vision to sustain abundant populations of wild pheasants, quail and other wildlife.

“A Women on the Wing chapter in Kansas is not just important—it’s long overdue,” Rezac said. “This network allows women to exchange knowledge, inspire one another, and build a strong, like-minded community dedicated to preserving Kansas’s upland heritage while carrying out Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s mission.”

The chapter volunteers will work to promote sustainable land management practices, enhance upland wildlife habitats, engage women in the upland community and build a strong family of women dedicated to preserving Kansas’s natural resources. They will emphasize education and outreach through hands-on learning, workshops and networking to inspire and support women in making impactful conservation decisions.

“Our state’s rich agricultural and wildlife heritage benefits from diverse perspectives, and women play a critical role in land management decisions,” Rezac said, “By building a community of passionate, conservation-minded women, the chapter helps safeguard Kansas’s natural resources and upland traditions for future generations.”

To learn more about the Kansas Prairie Women on the Wing Chapter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, contact chapter president Kari O’Riley at [email protected]. The chapter’s next event will be a virtual meeting on January 23 at 6:30 pm CT, using this link. For more information about Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever in Kansas, contact Mika Rezac at [email protected].

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 477,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 580,000 habitat projects benefiting 28.8 million acres.

Lollato says crop’s value extends beyond grain

Kansas State University wheat specialist Romulo Lollato says farmers should consider what they might be missing when choosing to leave winter wheat out of their usual crop rotations.

Lollato notes that wheat acres in Kansas have been decreasing at a rate of approximately 2% every year since 2005. Nationally, that decline remains at about 1.5%. Often, he said, management decisions are based solely on the crop’s profitability.

However, sidelining this crop may result in growers passing over the benefits of winter wheat in multiple areas of agricultural production, such as planting, fertilizing and grazing.

According to Lollato, producers can obtain more flexibility in cropping systems when planting winter wheat. Specifically, winter wheat has a broader planting window when compared to summer crops.

“In regions where the winter is a little warmer, there is more time to plant the wheat crop and still reach your maximum yield potential for that area,” he said. “Some of our research (at K-State) shows that you have as much as 50–60 days to reach that yield potential in south-central Kansas.”

Beyond planting, growers have more freedom when fertilizing fields. Plants use most of the nitrogen available for growth in the spring, so Lollato said producers have an approximate six-month window after planting in September to put out fertilizer without losing efficacy.

“Timing is important,” he said. “The closer you administer nitrogen to the stem elongation phase is typically better regarding the nitrogen’s effectiveness.”

He added: “A large fertilizer window allows producers to match up applications with optimum weather and it ensures the nitrogen has time to get incorporated into the root zone and reduce losses.”

Additionally, diversified producers raising livestock benefit from planting winter wheat for grazing.

“Growing this dual-purpose crop provides quite a bit of high-quality forage during a time of the year when others are less available – like late fall, winter and early spring,” Lollato said.

While the price of the actual grain can be less than ideal some years, incorporating winter wheat into crop rotations allows for double-cropping or growing two or more crops in the same field simultaneously, which opens up other economic possibilities.

“In many operations, if we’re dealing with summer crops, we can grow just one crop each year,” Lollato said. “If we introduce a winter wheat crop in that system, we can grow three crops in two years, depending on where we are.”

“The possibility of intensifying the system like that and being able to produce – on average – more than one cash crop annually plays a huge role in profitability.”

Other advantages of having winter wheat in crop rotations:

• Weed suppression.
• Moisture conservation.
• Carbon sequestration.

To help communicate the positives of winter wheat, Lollato and the vice president of research and operations at Kansas Wheat, Aaron Harries, have launched an information campaign called “Wheat: Beyond the Value of the Grain.” More information about this movement is available online.