Nebraska Tick Testing (NeTT)
NeTT Annual Report 2025
Annual Report 2025
Tick Species Submitted
A total of 608 ticks were submitted to the Nebraska Tick Testing (NeTT) Program in 2025. There were 497 samples submitted from Nebraska across 39 counties. Many other states submitted samples including Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Most of the submitted ticks were identified as American Dog Ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), but there was a significant number of Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum). We received other species included in our table below. We chose not to create individual maps for tick species with less than 10 submissions for easier readability.
Tick Species Submitted to NeTT - May 2025 to October 2025
| Tick Species | Common Name | Total |
| Dermacentor variabilis | American Dog Tick | 306 |
| Amblyomma americanum | Lone Star Tick | 267 |
| Ixodes scapularis | Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick) | 8 |
| Unidentified* | Unidentified | 8 |
| Amblyomma maculatum | Gulf Coast Tick | 2 |
| Ixodes pacificus | Western Blacklegged Tick | 2 |
| Dermacentor andersoni | Rocky Mountain Wood Tick | 1 |
*Some of the submissions arrived at the lab damaged and unable to determine feeding status, sex, or life stages
Submissions by Life Stage and Feeding Status- May 2025 to October 2025
| Life Stage | Not Engorged | Engorged | Total |
| Adult Female | 187 | 109 | 296 |
| Adult Male | 176 | - | 176 |
| Nymphs | 67 | 45 | 112 |
| Larvae | 2 | - | 2 |
| Unidentified* | 22 | - | 22 |
*Some of the submissions arrived at the lab damaged and unable to determine feeding status, sex, or life stages
Tick Submissions Per County
Nebraska County Tick Submissions - May 2025 to October 2025
| County | Adult American Dog Tick | Nymph American Dog Tick | Adult Lone Star Tick | Nymph Lone Star Tick | Other | Totals |
| Adams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Brown | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Buffalo | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Butler | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Cass | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Cherry | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Colfax | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cuming | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dakota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Dawson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Deuel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dodge | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Douglas | 108 | 0 | 71 | 31 | 12 | 222 |
| Furnas | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Gage | 10 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 19 |
| Hall | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Holt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Johnson | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Keith | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Knox | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Lancaster | 25 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 61 |
| Lincoln | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Madison | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| McPherson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Merrick | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Nance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Nemaha | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Nuckolls | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Otoe | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Phelps | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Platte | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Richardson | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Saline | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sarpy | 28 | 0 | 43 | 21 | 5 | 97 |
| Saunders | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Seward | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Thayer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Valley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Washington | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
Ticks Received for Identification & Testing from Nebraska
May 2025 to October 2025
This map displays all tick submissions to NeTT from across Nebraska. Geographic boundaries are shown by ZIP code. Each dot represents a single tick submission and is randomly placed within its corresponding zip code.
Three tick species found in Nebraska. All ticks shown are female- Blacklegged/Deer tick (left), American dog tick (center), and Lone star tick (right). Pictures from Jody Green with Nebraska Extension.
American Dog Ticks
American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) were the most submitted tick species this year. These ticks are usually found in areas where there are little trees, such as sidewalks and trails1. American dog ticks can transmit Rickettsia species, Ehrlichia species, and Francisella tularensis. Ticks must take a blood meal to progress in their life cycle. Larval American dog ticks typically feed on small animals like mice. Nymphs prefer medium sized animals like raccoons. The adult American dog ticks tend to feed on larger hosts such as dogs and humans2.
Tick pictures from Jody Green with Nebraska Extension.
Lone Star Ticks
Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) were the second most submitted tick species this year. These ticks are usually found woody areas near animals4. Lone star ticks can transmit Rickettsia species, Ehrlichia species, Francisella tularensis, Bourbon Virus, and Heartland Virus. Bites from the lone star tick are associated with the allergy to mammalian byproducts called Alpha-gal Syndrome. The lone star tick uses a different host at each life stage, like the American dog tick. The lone star tick is an aggressive human biter but also likes deer as a host5.
Tick pictures from Jody Green with Nebraska Extension.
Seasonality of Tick Submissions- 2025
Ticks can be active in Nebraska all year round. The spring and summer seasons are when ticks are most active within the state, specifically May and June3. We received most ticks at the beginning of the season which aligns with peak activity.
Pictures of the 3 species of ticks in Nebraska (female–male) — American dog tick, Lone star tick, Blacklegged tick. Images from Jody Green with Nebraska Extension.
Tick Pathogen Testing
At NeTT, we test for many tickborne pathogens, which vary by tick type. Blacklegged ticks are screened for Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Powassan virus, and Ehrlichia species. American dog ticks are tested for Ehrlichia species, Rickettsia species, and Francisella tularensis. For lone star tick submissions, we test for Heartland virus, Bourbon virus, Ehrlichia species, Rickettsia species, and Francisella tularensis. If a tick tests positive broadly for Ehrlichia species or Rickettsia species, we run an additional panel to determine the specific pathogen. The table below shows pathogens with positive detection. Note: The absence or presence of any pathogen in the submitted tick(s) does not indicate that you are or are not infected with a tick-borne pathogen. Please do not hesitate to consult with a medical professional if you are showing any signs or symptoms of a tick-borne disease or have other medical concerns.
Detected Pathogens - May 2025 to October 2025
| Pathogen | Frequency | Percent |
| Borrelia burgdorferi | 2 | 0.30 |
| Babesia microti | 1 | 0.20 |
| Ehrlichia species | 7 | 1.15 |
| Ehrlichia ewingii | 1 | 0.20 |
| Rickettsia species | 189 | 31.09 |
| Rickettsia rickettsii | 1 | 0.20 |
| Rickettsia amblyommatis | 72 | 11.84 |
| Rickettsia parkeri | 2 | 0.33 |
| Francisella tularensis | 20 | 3.29 |
Host Associations
The majority of ticks submitted to NeTT were found on humans (72%), followed by animals (20.1%), and the environment (7.9%). Among the ticks found on animals, most were found on dogs (87.7%), then cats (5.7%), horses (5.6%), and cattle (1.6%). This graphic in the top right shows the locations ticks were most commonly found on humans. NeTT received submissions from individuals across all age groups. Ticks impact all individuals from young children to older adults. The bottom bar chart displays the number of tick submissions by life stage across different human age group.
Human Activity
At NeTT, we want to identify how human behavior can influence the number of tick encounters. Most of the tick submissions were found on private land, primarily residential. The majority of tick submissions were associated with participating in a recreational activity (53.4%), followed by participating in an occupational activity (31.1%). The recreational activity that provided us with the most ticks was walking/running.
Activities Associated with Tick Encounters- May 2025 to October 2025
| Activity | Adult | Nymph | Larvae | Unidentified | Total |
| Biking | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 (0.70%) |
| Camping | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 (3.2%) |
| Gardening/Yard Work | 45 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 56 (13%) |
| Hiking | 50 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 69 (16%) |
| Hunting | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 (2.1%) |
| Occupation Related | 122 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 134 (31.1%) |
| Walking/Running | 64 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 79 (18.3%) |
| Other | 57 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 67 (15.5%) |
Protection Mechanisms
Only 15% of individuals reported using protection measures against ticks. The most prevalent protection mechanism used was “Other PPE” which included wearing light clothing, tucking socks over pants, and pet flea and tick prevention.
We really want to emphasize the importance of “tick checks”. This means
scanning your whole body for ticks after being outside. Start at the feet as ticks typically first climb onto the body around the ankles to knees. It is best to carefully examine your body for about 10 minutes. “Tick checks” are also important for your pets. When returning indoors, place your clothes immediately in the dryer on high heat to kill any ticks that may still be on your clothing. It’s also recommended to shower within two hours of coming indoors as it can help wash off any unattached ticks.
Thank you to everyone who has submitted their ticks to us in 2025. We appreciate you assisting our research.
We would love to test your tick!
Place the tick in a Ziploc bag. Seal the bag shut.
Complete the tick submission form. This submission form will generate a Tick ID. Using a permanent marker, please write the Tick ID on the bag for tracking purposes.
Place the labeled tick bag(s) in a small, padded envelope. Please write the Tick ID(s) on the back of the envelope.
Mail the envelope to:
Nebraska Tick Testing
Dr. Shaun Cross
DRC2 1016
601 S Saddle Creek Rd
Omaha, NE 68106
Contact us at NebraskaTickTesting@unmc.edu
Disclaimer:
Nebraska Tick Testing (NeTT) is not a FDA approved diagnostic lab and the results from these ticks should not be used as a medical diagnosis. Please always consult with your healthcare provider when making healthcare decisions. We do not advise waiting until tick test results are available to visit your healthcare provider if you are showing signs or symptoms of a tick-borne disease. The absence or presence of any pathogen in the submitted tick(s) does not indicate that you are or are not infected with a tick-borne pathogen. Please do not hesitate to consult with a medical professional if you are showing any signs or symptoms of a tick-borne disease or have other medical concerns.
References:
TickEncounter. American Dog Tick. University of Rhode Island. https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/species/dog-tick/.
Cooperative Extension: Tick Lab, University of Maine. American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis). University of Maine. https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/maine-ticks/american-dog-tick/.
Nebraska One Health. Tick Tag Go — Nebraska Ticks & Prevention. University of Nebraska–Lincoln. https://nebraskaonehealth.unl.edu/research-training-outreach-programs/tick-tag-go/nebraska-ticks-prevention/.
TickEncounter. Lone Star Tick. University of Rhode Island. https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/species/lone-star-tick/.
Cooperative Extension: Tick Lab, University of Maine. Lone Star Tick. University of Maine. https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/maine-ticks/lone-star-tick/.
