Climate change is affecting not only our weather but also the distribution of parasites and the diseases they can carry. One example is the growing presence of Hyalomma ticks in parts of Europe where they were previously uncommon. These ticks are of particular interest because they can transmit Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a pathogen that can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening illness in humans. Hyalomma ticks are typically found in warm and dry regions of Africa, Asia and southern Europe. However, they have increasingly been reported further north, including in Central Europe. Migratory birds may play an important role in their spread: immature ticks can attach to birds and travel long distances before dropping off. As adults, they usually feed on larger animals such as horses, cattle and sheep. This means they can appear in new areas even when local conditions are not yet suitable for permanent establishment.
To better understand the occurrence of these ticks in Hungary, the Eco-epidemiology Research Group at the Institute of Evolution, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Budapest launched the TickWatcher citizen science programme in 2021. The project invites members of the public to report unusual ticks found on themselves, their pets, livestock or in their surroundings. Reports can be submitted through a dedicated website or, since April 2025, via the free PragmaTick mobile application, which is available in 22 languages. Participants can upload photographs for expert identification and, whenever possible, are asked to send the specimens to the laboratory for further examination. The programme has attracted considerable public interest. Between 2021 and November 2025, the website received more than 107,000 visits, the mobile application was downloaded 2,500 times, and researchers received 1,014 tick submissions. Among these, 29 Hyalomma ticks were confirmed across Hungary. Eighteen specimens were sent to the laboratory, where researchers identified five Hyalomma marginatum and thirteen Hyalomma rufipes . Most were found on horses, followed by buffalo, dogs, donkeys and cattle. Three ticks were also reported from people. One volunteer reported a Hyalomma on the kitchen floor, and another found a specimen crawling on the wall of a garden pool within Budapest. One particularly interesting finding was a group of five Hyalomma ticks discovered at a buffalo farm over two consecutive years. Together with other nearby observations, this suggests that the area could be a potential hotspot for these ticks. However, this does not prove that a local population has become established or is reproducing in Hungary. Further monitoring is needed to determine whether the ticks are arriving repeatedly or beginning to survive and reproduce locally. The researchers also investigated the genetic characteristics of the collected ticks, comparing Hungarian specimens with those from other parts of the world. The results showed that Hungarian Hyalomma marginatum specimens belong to genetic groups already widespread across Europe and the wider Eurasian-Mediterranean region. Hyalomma rufipes showed greater genetic diversity, including some variants that appeared to be restricted to Hungary in the available dataset. These findings provide insights into the genetic diversity and geographical relationships of the ticks, although they cannot yet reveal exactly where the Hungarian specimens originated or how they arrived. An important finding was that all 18 ticks examined in the laboratory tested negative for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. This is reassuring, but it does not mean that the potential risk can be ignored. Previous studies have detected antibodies against the virus in some Hungarian animals and people, suggesting possible earlier exposure to the virus or a closely related one. Antibodies indicate previous exposure, however, and do not necessarily mean that an active infection is currently present. Finding a small number of ticks across an entire country is rather like looking for a needle in a haystack. Traditional field collection methods are not always effective for Hyalomma ticks, so reports from people who regularly check themselves and their animals can provide valuable information that researchers might otherwise miss. The PragmaTick application also makes reporting easier and helps ensure that important details, such as location, date and host animal, are recorded consistently.
The researchers plan to continue monitoring these ticks, with particular attention to livestock owners and areas where several specimens have already been reported. Their work follows the DAMA approach: Document, Assess, Monitor and Act. This means recording unusual findings, investigating their significance, tracking their occurrence over time and using the results to guide appropriate preventive measures. Although current findings do not indicate that Hyalomma ticks have established permanent populations in Hungary, their repeated detection highlights the importance of continued surveillance. Early detection, scientific research and public participation can together help identify emerging health risks.
Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases
Observational study
Animals
Hyalomma in the haystack: Five years of citizen science-driven tick monitoring in Hungary
29-Oct-2026
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.