About this Research Topic
Most vector-borne diseases in North America, Europe, and Asia are caused by the transmission of bacteria, viruses, or parasites to humans by ticks. For instance, in the USA alone, ticks cause more than 95% of vector-borne diseases. Diseases caused by the transmission of bacteria to humans from ticks include Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), tick-borne relapsing fever (Relapsing fever Borrelia - Ornithodoros and Carios sp.), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii), Pacific Coast tick fever (Rickettsia. philipii), Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), Human monotropic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. ewingii, E. muris eauclairensis) and Tularaemia (Francisella tularensis). Furthermore, diseases like these can be caused by viruses that ticks can transmit to humans, namely Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE virus complex), Powassan encephalitis (POW virus), and Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF virus). Some diseases, including Human babesiosis (Babesia microti, B. divergens, and B. duncani), can also be caused by parasites transmitted by ticks. The economic impact of diseases transmitted by ticks is substantial and rising year by year. According to studies, nearly 500,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed each year in the United States, which could cost about 1 billion dollars annually. Similarly, the other tick-borne diseases can incur similar costs, not accounting for unreported and undiagnosed cases of tick-borne diseases.
There have been ongoing efforts to address these diseases, and progress continues to be made in various areas. Examples are advances in diagnostic techniques that led to the early detection and accurate diagnosis of tick-borne diseases, the development of new vaccines against tick-borne diseases, the emergence of multiple strategies to curb tick populations and lessen the risk of tick-borne diseases, and improved education and the raising of public awareness. This Research Topic accepts submissions of original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and commentaries on advances in tick-borne disease research, including, but not limited to the above-mentioned areas.
There have been ongoing efforts to address these diseases, and progress continues to be made in various areas. Examples are advances in diagnostic techniques that led to the early detection and accurate diagnosis of tick-borne diseases, the development of new vaccines against tick-borne diseases, the emergence of multiple strategies to curb tick populations and lessen the risk of tick-borne diseases, and improved education and the raising of public awareness. This Research Topic accepts submissions of original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and commentaries on advances in tick-borne disease research, including, but not limited to the above-mentioned areas.
Keywords: Tick-Borne Diseases
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