Spring is coming and so are the ticks – suspicious blood-suckers can also be reported through an app

22.04.2025

For years, the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research (HUN-REN ÖK) has been running the Tick Monitoring program, aimed at studying the establishment and spread of the newly appearing, non-native Hyalomma ticks in Hungary. From now on, in addition to the Tick Monitoring website, the PragmaTick mobile application also assists in monitoring this non-native tick. Here's how the app works.

The unseasonably warm February weather has led to an earlier appearance of both native and non-native tick species in Hungary. Researchers emphasize the importance of monitoring these blood-suckers, particularly the Hyalomma ticks, which are capable of transmitting various pathogens, including the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus—a disease with a mortality rate of up to 30%. Hyalomma ticks are native to regions south of Hungary but can spread with the help of migratory birds. Due to global warming, these ticks are increasingly likely to survive and find suitable conditions in Hungary's climate.

How can it be recognized?

In Hungary, approximately 20–30 tick species exist, some of which parasitize host animals also favored by Hyalomma species. Distinguishing them may not be easy at first; the following identification images can assist in this.

Hyalomma ticks differ from the commonly known native tick species in several ways, which can aid in their identification: they are larger and faster than native species, characterized by a dark, solid-colored dorsal shield, and their legs are distinctly striped. All of this is visible to the naked eye.

Since the launch of the project, researchers have received several hundred public reports; however, the majority of the collected ticks have been identified as native species. Through the citizen science-based program initiated by researchers at the Institute of Evolutionary Sciences at HUN-REN ÖK, a total of 19 Hyalomma ticks have been collected from various parts of the country over the past four years. The incoming ticks are continuously examined for pathogens; so far, however, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus has not been detected in any of them.

The submitted Hyalomma ticks were primarily identified on large mammals (e.g. horses, cattle, buffaloes, donkeys), making it particularly important to inform large animal keepers. Specimens observed in spring deserve special attention, as they may indicate local overwintering or reproduction rather than introduction via migratory birds, researchers emphasize.

Starting from spring 2025, the submission process is also facilitated by the PragmaTick application. The user-friendly app was developed by researchers from the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research's Institute of Evolutionary Sciences and a team of IT specialists, with support from the National Laboratory for Health Security and the EU's PRAGMATICK COST project.

The HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research is calling on the public to observe ticks carefully upon detection, photograph them, and if a Hyalomma species is suspected, preserve the specimen in a sealable container and report it to the researchers. By answering a few simple questions and attaching a photo of the tick, the found specimens can be reported within a few minutes, significantly contributing to both domestic and, since the platform will also be available in other countries, international research. Additionally, the app provides a wealth of useful information about Hyalomma and other tick species found in Hungary, as well as common misconceptions related to ticks. Interested individuals can learn more about the application and the program's results to date at www.kullancsfigyelo.hu.

Researchers emphasize that regardless of the tick species encountered, the most important factor is immediate removal.

The longer the tick stays embedded in the skin, the greater the chance that a pathogen enters the body. Therefore, after hiking or gardening, examine your body thoroughly, paying attention even to 1-millimeter tick larvae. This check should be done even if you applied tick repellent, as these do not offer 100% protection.
If you find a tick that has already started feeding, remove it immediately. This does not require special tools: use tweezers or even your nails to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it out in a firm motion, taking care not to squeeze it excessively. Swift action is crucial, as some pathogens can enter the bloodstream within a few hours of the tick’s attachment. That’s why it is not advisable to wait until you get special tools or consult a doctor - visiting a healthcare provider for tick removal only puts unnecessary strain on the entire system.
While it’s important to be aware of the risks, it’s equally important to stress that by following a few precautions, there is no reason to avoid parks or forests, whether due to native or newly emerging tick species or the pathogens they may carry.
The likelihood of the appearance of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Hungary remains low; the Hyalomma ticks collected through our program have not carried the virus responsible for the disease.

HUN-REN aims to become one of the most effective research organisations in Europe and to contribute significantly to Hungary's social and economic success. The HUN-REN Act, effective from 1 January 2025, provides the necessary framework for HUN-REN to transform into a more responsive, collaborative, performance-oriented, and well-functioning network, ensuring the freedom of scientific research and the continuation of exploratory research, while providing multidisciplinary solutions to complex challenges affecting both national and international communities. Employees within the modernising HUN-REN can look forward to a long-term, consistent, value-driven, and performance-focused funding system, mutually reinforcing structure and operation, competitive salaries, and a predictable research career.