Tick surveys
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-06)

The pages below contain information about the national tick survey, as well as surveillance of red sheep and ornate cow ticks.

CCHS navigation menu: CCHS homepage (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/the-centre-for-climate-health-security)Topic: health impacts (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/health-impacts) Vector-borne disease: ticks (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ticks)Part of: monitoring and research

Key resources for tick surveys:
- Tick surveys
- National Tick Survey (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-tick-survey)
- Red sheep tick surveillance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ornate-cow-tick-surveillance)
- Ornate cow tick surveillance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-sheep-tick-surveillance)
More content:
- Tick Surveillance Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tick-surveillance-scheme)
Summary

The surveys listed below are used to collect active surveillance data, which involves the systematic collection of ticks from the environment for testing or analysis. In contrast, the Tick Surveillance Scheme is passive surveillance, with samples received from members of the public and others.

Figure 1: Example of ticks

National Tick Survey

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works with park rangers and wardens from the National Parks, National Landscapes and Forestry England to monitor ticks across England and Wales. Together, we carry out vegetation surveys to look for ticks in the environment. Ticks are then tested for a range of pathogens to help assess the potential public health risk. Our annual survey provides a snapshot of current tick activity and pathogen circulation in the UK tick population and informs our risk assessments.

Find out more about the National Tick Survey (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-tick-survey)

Red sheep tick surveillance

Every year in spring, a survey is carried out jointly with health colleagues in known endemic regions of England to confirm continued activity of the red sheep tick. This species has been linked to veterinary pathogens such as Babesia, Theileria and cause tick pyaemia. It has also been found infected with human pathogens such as Ricketssia and Borrelia miyamotoi. Vets in local areas are contacted and encouraged to submit records of unusual ticks to our Tick Surveillance Scheme as part of our enhanced monitoring.

Find out more about red sheep tick surveillance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-sheep-tick-surveillance)

Ornate cow tick surveillance

Every year in late winter, a survey is carried out using a One Health (https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/one-health) approach in known endemic regions of England and Wales to confirm continued activity of the ornate cow tick. This species has been linked to canine babesiosis, and infected with Rickettsia. Elsewhere it is reported to be a vector of tick-borne Encephalitis virus. Vets in local areas are contacted and encouraged to submit records of unusual ticks to our Tick Surveillance Scheme as part of our enhanced monitoring.

Find out more about ornate cow tick surveillance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ornate-cow-tick-surveillance)

Figure 2: Ornate cow tick