As in the previous year, most ticks came from Lower Austria (2,900), followed by Upper Austria (1,868), Styria (1,117), Tyrol (901), Carinthia (468), Vorarlberg (451), Vienna (234), Burgenland (201) and Salzburg (158).

The most common tick genus was Ixodes (96%), led by the species Ixodes ricinus, the common wood tick. The second most common genus was again ticks of the genus Dermacentor (3%). Other tick species identified were Haemaphysalis concinna and Hyalomma marginatum (‘giant ticks’).

A proportion of the native hard ticks of the genera Ixodes, Dermacentor and Haemaphysalis (n = 3,838) were tested this year, following species identification, not only for the presence of Borrelia but also for other pathogens. Lyme Borrelia, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, was the most frequently detected, at 24%.

AGES Knowledge Update: Tick Monitoring in Austria Annual Report 2025