Tick Research Group

Research Group on Ticks and Tick-Borne Microorganisms

Welcome to the website of the research group on ticks and tick-borne diseases!

Next to this website, you can also find us on YouTube, Twitter and ResearchGate.

Möchten Sie diese Website lieber auf Deutsch lesen? http://zeckenforschung.at/

Tick analysis

We do not analyse ticks for medical reasons. Analysing ticks for pathogens is not medically relevant because a negative result does not guarantee that pathogens have not been transmitted. Even if a tick tests positive for pathogens, it does not necessarily mean that an infectious dose has been transmitted to the host. Therefore, screening ticks for pathogens does not provide reliable information for medical purposes.
Remember to check for ticks after spending time in nature. If you find a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull it straight out with a steady motion. It’s normal to see a small red swelling during and after the tick bite. This will go away within the next few days. However, if you notice the rash getting larger or experience symptoms like fever or headaches after the tick bite, it’s important to see a general physician and inform them about the tick bite.

Hyalomma ticks in Austria

Lately, there has been a rise in the number of reported cases of Hyalomma ticks (“Riesenzecke”) being discovered in Austria. Our team is dedicated to investigating these ticks further. If you happen to come across one, kindly take a photo of it and send it to zecken@meduniwien.ac.at. Additionally, please make sure to safely collect the tick in a container that it cannot escape from and send it to:
Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology
Research Group on Ticks and Tick-Borne Microorganisms
Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria

Hyalomma spp. ticks

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