Discovery of the potentially invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae) in Türkiye: an unexpected finding through citizen science

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 94; no. 3; p. 47
• Main Authors: Keskin, Adem, Doi, Kandai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anaplasma; Animal Distribution; Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animals; Arachnids; Australia; Babesia; Bartonella; Biology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cattle; cattle industry; Central Asia; Citizen Science; Coxiella; East Asia; Economic impact; Ecosystem biology; Ectoparasites; Entomology; Female; Females; genotype; Genotypes; Haemaphysalis longicornis; hemoparasites; Huaiyangshan banyangvirus; humans; Introduced Species; Ixodidae - anatomy & histology; Ixodidae - classification; Ixodidae - genetics; Ixodidae - growth & development; Ixodidae - physiology; Life Sciences; Male; Morphology; Nonnative species; Nymph - anatomy & histology; Nymph - genetics; Nymph - growth & development; Nymph - physiology; Parasites; Parasitology; Parthenogenesis; Pathogens; Peribunyaviridae; Phlebovirus; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Rickettsia; Science; species; Theileria orientalis; Thrombocytopenia; Ticks; Turkey; Turkey; Australia; Central Asia; East Asia; Parasite; Zoonotic diseases; Invasive species; Ticks; Human infestation
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-025-01015-9
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702

The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, is a species commonly found in Central Asia, East Asia, and Australia, but it has recently emerged in the USA as a significant disease threat. The tick exhibits a fascinating biological trait, as certain populations are capable of reproducing both sexually and asexually via parthenogenesis. As a result, a single asexual female has the potential to initiate the establishment of a new population when introduced into a novel geographical region. Haemaphysalis longicornis is of considerable medical and veterinary importance, being associated with more than 30 human pathogens, including Anaplasma , Babesia , Bartonella , Coxiella , Rickettsia , Theileria , and others. It is also a competent vector for the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (Bunyaviridae, Phlebovirus) in Eastern Asia. The tick can also cause heavy infestations in cattle and transmit the hemoprotozoan parasite Theileria orientalis genotype Ikeda, resulting in significant economic losses within the cattle industry. In the present study, we report the morphological and molecular identification of H. longicornis in the European part of Türkiye. Additionally, we offer hypotheses regarding how H. longicornis ticks may have arrived in Türkiye, potential risks, and the necessary precautions that should be taken.