Ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites widely distributed around the world. During their long-term blood feeding on mammals they can transmit various pathogens to the host, including bacteria, viruses and protozoans. These pathogens can cause serious infections or conditions in humans and animals such as babesiosis, theileriosis, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis. Although these diseases are responsible for mortality and major depressions in livestock production worldwide, they are usually neglected in research. For this reason, available vaccines and drugs are limited in both number and efficacy.
Additionally, global climate warming has led to the expanded distribution of ticks and their habitat and has increased the prevalence of the tick-borne diseases in previously non-endemic countries. This has created new challenges in the prevention and control of these diseases.
The objective of this research topic is to collate the work of authors from various areas of research relating to ticks and tick-borne illness into a comprehensible article collection. We aim to improve the understanding in this field and emphasize the importance of developing new strategies to control these infectious diseases.
This research topic is open to original research, reviews, and case reports on ticks and tick-borne diseases. Aspects related to the following research areas are even more welcome:
· Anatomy and physiology of ticks.
· Molecular taxonomy, detection/diagnostics and epidemiology.
· Treatments and prevention strategies.
· Mechanisms of pathogen transmission.
· Vaccine development and drug discovery.
Ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites widely distributed around the world. During their long-term blood feeding on mammals they can transmit various pathogens to the host, including bacteria, viruses and protozoans. These pathogens can cause serious infections or conditions in humans and animals such as babesiosis, theileriosis, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis. Although these diseases are responsible for mortality and major depressions in livestock production worldwide, they are usually neglected in research. For this reason, available vaccines and drugs are limited in both number and efficacy.
Additionally, global climate warming has led to the expanded distribution of ticks and their habitat and has increased the prevalence of the tick-borne diseases in previously non-endemic countries. This has created new challenges in the prevention and control of these diseases.
The objective of this research topic is to collate the work of authors from various areas of research relating to ticks and tick-borne illness into a comprehensible article collection. We aim to improve the understanding in this field and emphasize the importance of developing new strategies to control these infectious diseases.
This research topic is open to original research, reviews, and case reports on ticks and tick-borne diseases. Aspects related to the following research areas are even more welcome:
· Anatomy and physiology of ticks.
· Molecular taxonomy, detection/diagnostics and epidemiology.
· Treatments and prevention strategies.
· Mechanisms of pathogen transmission.
· Vaccine development and drug discovery.
