Open Veterinary Journal, (2026), Vol. 16(4): 2408-2411

Case Report

10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i4.42

First report of Ixodes hexagonus in Montenegro

Ivana Zuber Bogdanović

Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory, Podgorica, Montenegro

*Corresponding Author: Ivana Zuber Bogdanović. Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory, Podgorica, Montenegro.
Email: ivana.zuber [at] udg.edu.me

Submitted: 05/12/2025 Revised: 12/03/2026 Accepted: 25/03/2026 Published: 30/04/2026

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ABSTRACT

Background: Ticks are important vectors of numerous diseases. Research into the presence and abundance of species, their distribution and ecology, and the presence of pathogens they carry, is essential in the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases. Monitoring the distribution and abundance of ticks is a key method for determining the presence of existing species and the establishment of new species in a certain territory. Data from regular, continuous, and comprehensive surveillance of the species best contribute to knowledge about the biology and nature of ticks in a particular habitat.

Case Description: To date, there have been few tick surveillance studies in Montenegro, as there is scarce data on tick species presence and the pathogens they transmit to animals and humans. This study was conducted with the aim of monitoring the distribution of tick species, determining their abundance, describing their biology, and testing the presence of pathogens they carry. The results showed that Ixodes hexagonus, in addition to other previously described species, is present on the territory of Montenegro. Tick sampling was conducted between April and November 2024 using flagging and dragging methods and direct removal from animals.

Conclusion: Considering its ubiquity in Europe and its vectorial capacity, the detection of I. hexagonus in Montenegro represents important information for future research on ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Keywords: Identification, Ixodes hexagonus, Montenegro, Tick, Tick-borne diseases.

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Introduction

Ixodes hexagonus (Leach 1815) is one of the most common tick species in Europe (Nijhof et al., 2007). This tick, with a natural life cycle of 1–2 years (Arthur, 1953), has been recorded from most European countries, from all habitats where hedgehogs (Erinaceus spp.) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are common. Although it is also called the ‘hedgehog tick’ because it lives on hedgehogs, the parasitism of I. hexagonus is not limited to these species of mammals, as other common hosts include carnivorous mammals from the families Canidae, Mustelidae, and Felidae (Sándor, 2017). The life cycle of I. hexagonus requires three hosts for blood meals, one in each developmental stage (Arthur, 1951). As a nest-dwelling species, I. hexagonus has developed specific adaptations to its habitat, and it may occur in high numbers on susceptible host individuals (Pfäffle et al., 2009). Also, its co-occurrence with other species of the genus Ixodes on the same host is not uncommon (Torina et al., 2006). Like other tick species, I. hexagonus can transmit a range of pathogens, both to animals and humans. In laboratory conditions, it has been experimentally shown that an infected female I. hexagonus transmits the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. to laboratory mice (Gern et al., 1991). In the same laboratory experiment, transovarial and transstadial survival of B. burgdorferi s.l. in female I. hexagonus has been demonstrated. Ixodes hexagonus is considered capable of transmitting Rickettsia helvetica, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and tick-borne encephalitis virus (Sándor, 2017).

As a Mediterranean country, characterized by different orographic and climatic zones, Montenegro is a suitable habitat for most European ticks. A total of 16 different tick species, from 5 different genera, have been identified in Montenegro (Kapo et al., 2024). Although several tick studies have been conducted in Montenegro (Oswald, 1938; Kapo et al., 2024), I. hexagonus has not been previously identified. The study identified and documented the current tick species distribution in Montenegro. The species I. hexagonus was registered for the first time within the framework of this study.

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Case Details

Tick collection for researching species distribution and abundance in the territory of Montenegro was carried out during the peak of adult activity, from April to November 2024. To ensure comprehensive tick collection, we implemented methods of collecting ticks from vegetation, using the Dragging and Flagging methods, as well as the method of directly removing ticks from animals. Thus, ticks were removed from a total of 50 dogs, cows, and sheep. Sampling was carried out throughout Montenegro. Ticks were collected from vegetation, using the Flagging and Dragging methods, according to the technical report “Field sampling methods for mosquitoes, sandflies, biting flies and ticks” (VectorNet project 2014–2018, ECDC, EFSA) (Medlock et al., 2018). When collecting ticks from animals, the entire skin of the animal was examined, and all found ticks were removed by hand or with tweezers. The removal of ticks from animals is performed by experienced veterinarians, considering the animal’s well-being and safety. Therefore, following the techniques for removing ticks from animals (Medlock et al., 2018), when removing ticks from animals, veterinarians wore gloves and used adequate tweezers. Each collected sample contained information on the type of animal from which it was removed, location, and sampling time. Samples collected from each location were stored in empty tubes labeled separately and stored in laboratory refrigerators. Counting and identification of species, life stage, and sex of ticks were performed under a stereo microscope (Leica EZ4 Stereo Microscope). Tick measurements were performed using a mobile, uncalibrated ruler installed on a stereomicroscope. The values represent approximate values because the measurement uncertainty of the ruler was roughly estimated at the smallest measurement division, i.e., 0.01 mm, due to the lack of a calibration certificate.

During the research period, 119 ticks (Ixodidae) belonging to five species were collected and identified: Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) (40 adults, of which 30 were females and 10 were males), I. hexagonus (one adult female), Hyalomma marginatum (Koch, 1844) (33 adults, of which 27 were females and 6 were males), Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (Latreille, 1806) (28 adults, of which 15 were females and 13 were males), Rhipicephalus bursa (Canestrini and Fanzago, 1878 ) (17 adults, of which 6 were females and 11 were males). Identification was performed based on morphological characteristics using the keys of Estrada-Peña et al. (2018) and Sándor (2017). A blood-fed female I. hexagonus was sampled in August in an area of high humidity and lush mountain vegetation at an altitude of approximately 700 m. The tick was taken from a farm dog. Although the sampled tick was not in a representative condition, the main morphological characteristics were preserved, and its identification was carried out based on them (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Female I. hexagonus under stereo microscopye.

The anal groove anterior to the anus determined the female’s belonging to the genus Ixodes. The base capituli are rectangular, with a pronounced bulge toward the tip of the hypostome and palps. There are distinct transverse grooves on the trapezoid-shaped basis capitulum. This engorged adult female I. hexagonus, with a total body length of 11.1 mm (including capitulum), has a 0.33-mm basal capitals length of 0.33 mm and a width of 0.49 mm. Laterally placed, indistinct auriculae are observed on the ventral surface of the capitulum base. The palpi is relatively short. Palpal segment II, with a length of 200 µm and a width of 80 µm, has a length/width ratio of 2.5. The length/width ratio of palpal segment III is slightly smaller and amounts to 1.6 because the length of this segment is 110 µm and the width is 70 µm. Since these values represent the results of uncalibrated micrometry and cannot be considered absolute, they were used for descriptive and comparative morphology. The coxa I of the first leg is triangular in shape, while the coxa I of the other legs are rectangular in shaping. A single short sharp internal spur is observed on the first coxa, which is absent from the other coxae. Coxa IV with a normal setae complement and without long setae tufts in one row. Coxae I–IV cells with short external spurs.

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Discussion

Ixodes hexagonus is a tick with a widespread distribution throughout Europe (Sándor, 2017). Its presence has been recorded in the following countries bordering Montenegro: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia (Kapo et al., 2024). Therefore, I. hexagonus is expected to be found in Montenegro based on detections in other countries with similar climates. Considering the facts and knowledge about its biology, it is very likely that this species has been present in the territory of Montenegro for a long time. The reason for the lack of data on its presence lies mainly in the fact that studies of tick species were rare. Moreover, those rare surveys mostly covered larger geographical areas, such as the Balkan Peninsula, so even when they included Montenegro, surveys were often conducted only on smaller areas of its territory (Oswald, 1938; Bajer et al., 2022). The few studies that have been conducted have mainly aimed at examining the presence of tick-borne diseases (Andrić et al., 2012; Laušević et al., 2020; Omeragić et al., 2024), which have largely neglected the diversity and distribution of tick species. The reason for the unsuccessful sampling of I. hexagonus so far may lie in the fact that it is the least frequently sampled of all ticks, as stated by numerous studies. Thus, its prevalence in the aforementioned studies ranges from 0.05% (Omeragić et al., 2024) to 0.1% (Torina et al., 2006). In our study, I. hexagonus accounted for 0.8% of all ticks collected. The abundance of other species sampled during this study, expressed as percentages, is as follows: I. ricinus (33.63%), Hy. marginatum (28%), R. sanguineus s.l. (23.53%) and R. bursa (14%).

As a typical endophilic, three-host species, I. hexagonus is a parasite of hedgehogs, while the other hosts are mainly carnivorous mammals from the families Canidae, Mustelidae, and Felidae (Sándor, 2017). The first recorded I. hexagonus specimen in Montenegro was taken from a dog. Kahl et al. (2022)mostly sampled I. hexagonus from pet dogs, whereas Pichot et al. (1997) sampled all adult I. hexagonus individuals from cats. In both of these studies, I. hexagonus was represented in suburban or periurban environments, similar to the environment where I. hexagonus was sampled in this study. The yard where I. hexagonus was sampled from the dog belonged to a farm with cows and sheep. The yard’s environment was characterized by vegetation typical of a basin with a moderate continental and mountainous climate, with predominant pastures between deciduous and mixed forests. The yard was located at an altitude of approximately 700 m, which is the altitude at which the presence of I. hexagonus can be expected, given the wide range of altitudes at which it was sampled, from 0 to 2,100 m a.s.l. (Sándor, 2017). Females are more often found during the summer, although the influence of environmental factors, such as altitude and season, does not significantly affect the distribution of the species (Pfäffle et al., 2011). The climate of the region where I. hexagonus was sampled in August, which was typical for that period (IHMS, 2024), with high temperatures and low precipitation. As stated by Honzáková and E (1973)the tick I. hexagonus is capable of surviving in all developmental stages in an environment that guarantees an appropriate value of relative humidity (Honzáková and E, 1973). Rich in vegetation, the environment from which I. hexagonus was sampled in this study is precisely an environment characterized by high air humidity, but also large differences in maximum and minimum temperature, which, according to certain studies (Honzáková and E, 1973), does not have a major impact on this tick’s survival.

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Conclusion

The conducted surveillance provided data on the presence of I. hexagonus in the territory of Montenegro for the first time. This study confirmed the importance of conducting surveillance of the species present, monitoring their abundance in real time, and in accordance with climate change. It represents the basis and indicates the need for future molecular studies in the field of tick species identification in Montenegro. Along with monitoring the presence of pathogens in sampled ticks, such types of surveillance provide one of the best ways to conduct studies within the One Health approach.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank her colleagues from the Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory for their support, help, and understanding.

Conflict of interest

The author has no conflict of interest to declare.

Funding

No specific grant was received.

Authors’ contribution

One author for this manuscript.

Data availability

All data supporting the case findings are presented in the manuscript.

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