Ticks, Tires, and Tracking: How NKU is Fighting Vector-Borne Illness

Story written by Madison Sigler, National Association of Science Writers

Roughly 89,000 cases of Lyme disease have been reported in the US since 2023, a 69% increase since 2022, and 49 cases of West Nile Virus have been reported so far in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Concern over disease vectors has increased, prompting a call for stronger control measures. Northern Kentucky is a key region to study as a zone of expansion, meaning species not originating from the area are migrating there. Associate Professor Dr. Allison Parker at Northern Kentucky University is working to look at how ecosystems impact disease transmission by ticks and mosquitoes. The goal is to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases.

Dr. Parker is an eco-epidemiologist who researches mosquitoes during the summer season and ticks year-round. She has been completing long-term research projects since the summer of 2021. Dr. Parker works with undergraduate student researchers to complete her projects, and says, “I love teaching them. I like that they learn new skills. I get excited when they come up with new projects.”  

Dr. Parker’s team has been conducting long-term tick surveys by dragging for ticks. She and her team do weekly site visits by dragging a piece of flannel cloth behind them and collect the ticks from the cloth. These ticks are then identified to species and life-stage to help understand seasonal patterns of tick activity in the area.

Historically, it was generally accepted that Northern Kentucky did not have Lyme disease, but now Dr. Parker’s team regularly collects the species of ticks capable of carrying Lyme disease in their weekly dragging. The Black Legged Tick, or the Deer Tick, was formerly found in more northern regions in the United States, but has migrated to Northern Kentucky, and is now common. The Lone Star Tick and Gulf Coast Tick were previously found farther south but are now found in the region, as well. Dr. Parker says that because these ticks are moving to new areas in the region, knowing where these ticks are found is crucial for public health. But ticks are only half the story.

Dr. Parker also conducts mosquito monitoring studies, focusing on mosquitoes that lay their eggs in a container-like habitat. In nature, these habitats would be a hole in a tree created from a fallen tree branch or a rock depression that collects water and nutrients, but humans often leave containers outside that fill with water, becoming the perfect habitat. All mosquitoes feed on sugar, but only females bite to get blood for egg development. After feeding, they lay eggs in standing water, making habitat studies essential.

She and her team placed discarded tires at field sites to create habitats and visit weekly to collect larvae and pupae to identify to species. Different species transmit different diseases, so knowing the species in the area is important. Dr. Parker has managed several different notable mosquito studies since beginning her research five years ago.

In one of her recent studies, her group tested a cost-effective trap, called an Ovillanta trap, made from two tire halves with the hope that it will be an effective method to control mosquitoes in homeowners' lawns. Their study showed that mosquitoes will lay their eggs in these Ovillanta traps making them a potential new tool in mosquito control in the region. Water and plant litter found in yards can be added to create a place where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Homeowners can dump out the tire contents weekly to control the population.

In one ongoing study, a student interested in toxicology created a Fipronil study to determine if the flea and tick preventative medication is also an effective control agent against mosquitoes. The team is testing to see if females will lay their eggs in the trap and seeing if the Fipronil-filled trap will then kill the larvae. Surprisingly, the team found the species of mosquito that transmits West Nile Virus prefer to lay their eggs in this trap.

Dr. Parker says the two biggest obstacles in her research are educating people and the constant need to seek funding. Dr. Parker said, “One of our biggest challenges is to have people really understand why we're doing what we do.” Educating people on how researchers are trying to stop ticks and mosquitoes from transmitting disease via population reduction is crucial.

Dr. Parker allows her students to choose an area they are interested in and make that their focus for independent research studies while also working on other projects to develop cost-effective and eco-friendly control methods. This gives NKU students the opportunity to develop their research skills during their undergraduate education and provides them with unique experiences and a competitive advantage for their future. By focusing her research on mosquitoes and ticks, Dr. Parker not only improves students' education but also contributes to meaningful and lasting improvements in the community.