A clear and present danger: tick-borne diseases in Europe

Abstract

Ticks can transmit a variety of viruses, bacteria or parasites that can cause serious infections or conditions in humans and animals. While tick-borne diseases are becoming an increasing and serious problem in Europe, tick-borne diseases are also responsible for major depressions in livestock production and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia. This review will focus on the most important circulating tick-transmitted pathogens in Europe (Borrelia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., tick-borne encephalitis virus, Rickettsia spp. and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus).

Keywords::

• Anaplasma phagocytophilum
• Babesia
• Borrelia
• Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus
• Europe
• Rickettsia
• tick-borne diseases
• tick-borne encephalitis virus

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was made possible by grants of the Belgian Ministry of defence, WB28 and WB24. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

^*According to [18], classified as subspecies of Rhipicephalus.