Molecular Epidemiology and Phylogeny of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodid Ticks and Vertebrate Hosts

Ticks are obligate blood sucking arthropods found in many areas of the world. They are responsible for the transmission of the animal and human pathogens. Due to environmental and socio-economic changes, tick-borne diseases are becoming an increasing challenge for human and veterinary public health especially in tropical and temperate regions. Ticks are arthropods that can adapt to different environmental conditions. Therefore, they can survive in most countries from the equator to the subarctic regions. They can carry and transmit a remarkable array of pathogens, such as protozoa, bacteria and viruses. Ticks also serve as reservoirs for many pathogenic microorganisms. This highlights the ever-increasing need for the identification of new microorganisms and their medical and/or veterinary roles. Tick-borne protozoal diseases such as theileriosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis are still the major concerns of veterinary medicine. Likewise, tick-borne infections such as Tick-borne encephalitis, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and Lyme disease are among the most important tick-borne zoonones.

The primary application of molecular tools highlights the specific and precise description of tickborne pathoges to solve many taxonomic problems. In recent years, the application of molecular diagnostic tools, increasingly used for the identification and taxonomy of tick-borne pathogens, has provided new insight and knowledge with regards to molecular epidemiology and phylogeny. Understanding of tick-parasite-host interactions, transmission dynamics, vector biology and ecology are essential to develop effective control measures. This Special Issue aims to highlight the original studies on tick-borne pathogens that improve our understanding on molecular epidemiology and phylogeny of tick-borne pathogens in ixodid ticks and vertebrate hosts.

We welcome submissions of original research and reviews articles from different disciplines, including parasitology, virology, microbiology, molecular biology, veterinary and medical sciences. Potential topics include, but are not limited to;

- Current data on molecular epidemiology, prevalence and distribution of the tick-borne pathogens in ticks and vertebrate hosts
- Contributions to tick-parasite-host interactions
- Contributions to the tick-borne pathogens
- Taxonomy and evolution
- Genetic diversity and genomics
- Studies on vector competency