First report of adult Hyalomma marginatum rufipes (vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus) on cattle under a continental climate in Hungary.
BACKGROUND
South Hungary is being monitored for the northward spreading of thermophilic ixodid species, therefore ticks were collected from cattle and wild ruminants (red, fallow and roe deer) in the autumn of 2011.


RESULTS
Besides indigenous species (1185 Dermacentor reticulatus and 976 Ixodes ricinus), two Hyalomma marginatum rufipes males were found on two cows, in September eight days apart.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the northernmost autochthonous infestation of the type host (cattle) with H. m. rufipes, vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. The present findings are suggestive of the moulting success of this Afro-Mediterranean tick species in a continental climate in Central Europe.
Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary. Hornok.Sandor@aotk.szie.hu
Sándor
S
Hornok
Gábor
G
Horváth
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002980:Climate; D003670:Deer; D005260:Female; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000502:physiology*; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D007303:Insect Vectors; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*