Multiple pruritic tick bites by Asian Longhorned tick larvae (Haemaphysalis longicornis)

This study presents the first report of multiple human bites by larvae of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann in the U.S. An adult male working on a public park in Hackensack City (New Jersey) removed eight attached larvae from the arm, armpit, and back. The worker developed small erythematous pruritic lesions that self resolved in two weeks. No other symptoms were associated with the bite. The Asian longhorned tick is not considered an anthropophilic tick species. Still, the parthenogenetic population present in the eastern U.S can reach high numbers in small areas increasing the risk of tick bites to non-specific hosts, including humans. Public health practitioners should become familiar with the Asian longhorned tick, and vectorial competence studies should be carried out to determine the risk of tick-borne disease transmission to humans.