Washington State University teamed up with other colleges and found out how some animals have “acquired tick immunity.” When some animals such as mice, cattle, and rabbits get bitten, they have a lower chance of getting bit again. Scientists have shed some light on how this immunity works, and how it will affect tick populations. This was discovered around April 30, 2025 by the people at WSU and other universities.
In one of the most recent studies at Washington State University, they discovered that if a host animal (mouse, cow, or rabbit) gets bitten, they developed tick resistance. They discovered that this immunity dramatically decreases the tick population, making the chance of tick diseases less likely. According to an article by Shawn Vestal for Washington State University Insider, “That’s important because population size is a crucial element of tick ecology: More Ticks means more disease and other tick-associated problems in humans, wildlife, and livestock” (Vestal, April 30, 2025).
This new information gives hope for new ideas that will help improve tick vaccines. Also, a lab’s model showed that the tick population’s average growth drops by 68% once the host animal becomes resistant. However, people still have many questions about how long it takes the animals in the wild to develop such a resistance. An article by Jordan Joseph for Earth.com says, “Still, major questions remain about how quickly that protection develops in nature and how long it might last if contact with ticks decreases” (Joseph, May 5, 2025).
It is important to control the tick populations because they can pass diseases to people, pets, and livestock. These infections include Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They can also cause the red-meat allergy, causing problems after eating certain meats. Earth.com’s article states, “A further complication is the red-meat allergy, linked to certain tick species, and can trigger severe problems after eating beef or pork” (Joseph, May 5, 2025).
In conclusion, scientists have found out that once certain animals get bit by ticks, their body starts to recognize compounds in tick saliva. This causes them to develop immunity that can help them have a lesser chance of getting bit, or if they do get bit, they will recover faster. This new research can help scientists prevent tick associated diseases in humans, with new vaccines and other treatment methods.
