Winter – but continue reporting ticks

One of IDAlert’s objectives is to enhance preparedness for new tick-borne infections. Our partner, the Swedish Veterinary Agency (SVA), launched the Report Tick web tool, a citizen science initiative used to monitor ticks and provide early warning signals. If a new tick species is found, there is a risk it may carry new infectious agents.

Ticks are now found year-round, and the winter season is particularly interesting for research. In southern and central Sweden, this tiny arachnid can still be spotted, often on dogs or cats.

However, in northern Sweden, ticks have entered hibernation for the winter. In the rest of the country, the Swedish National Veterinary Institute (SVA) is requesting more reports through its online tool Rapportera Fästing. Despite the cold temperatures, rain, and snow in much of the country, tick sightings have been reported using this platform.

“Last winter, we received tick reports, although in smaller numbers compared to the peak season. Now, in December, ticks have been reported from southern Sweden up to the Stockholm region, despite the cold, rain, and snow. Ticks are most often found on dogs and cats. If you live in Sweden and encounter a tick, please take a moment to contribute to research by reporting it to us. And keep reporting throughout the winter,” says Anna Omazic, researcher at SVA.

The taiga tick preliminarily free from TBE virus

During the 2024 tick season, SVA focused on monitoring the taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus) in northern Sweden. This species can carry new types of TBE virus, which may cause severe symptoms. In most cases, these viruses trigger a mild, flu-like illness, but they can also lead to encephalitis.

“Preliminary results show that all the ticks analyzed from northern Sweden tested negative for TBE virus. Thanks to all the reports, we have obtained a good understanding of where and when the taiga tick can be found in the country. Next year, we plan to collect ticks from specific locations and analyze whether they carry the TBE virus. This is an important measure to continue monitoring the potential presence of the virus in the area,” explains Anna Omazic.

Aiming for 10,000 findings in 2025

Since the launch of Rapportera Fästing in the spring of 2023, the public has reported over 24,600 tick findings. Västra Götaland County has again topped the list of reports, closely followed by Stockholm and Skåne counties. However, the number of reports in 2024 has been significantly lower than in 2023. Nonetheless, these reports have provided valuable information about tick species and the pathogens they carry.

“Thanks to the public’s willingness to contribute to research, we discovered the first specimen of the ornate sheep tick in Sweden. The online tool allows citizens to help us collect large amounts of data over a long period. This enables us to maintain robust monitoring of both exotic and native tick species. For 2025, we hope to receive 10,000 reports and for more people to submit findings of exotic ticks,” concludes Anna Omazic.