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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Ticks and Threats: Insights on Tick-Borne Diseases
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Ticks and Threats: Insights on Tick-Borne Diseases

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 1335

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giovanni Sgroi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Animal Health Department, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Italy
Interests: parasites; public health; ticks; tick-borne diseases; wildlife; zoonoses
Dr. Kandai Doi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
Interests: ecological parasitology; field parasitology; infectious disease ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As is well-known, tick-borne diseases represent a major global public health challenge due to the plethora of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections affecting animals and humans. To date, the occurrence and emergence of tick-borne diseases has been considered across different geographical settings due to their complex epidemiology, this depending on various sociodemographic aspects. For example, agricultural strategies, deforestation, and global warming are strongly involved in altering ecosystems, affecting tick–host interaction and the circulation of tick-borne pathogens. In addition, the increased urbanization of various wildlife species in urban and suburban areas has further increased the circulation, transmission routes, and exposure risk of tick-borne zoonotic pathogens to pets, farm animals, and humans. Accordingly, this Special Issue is open to original research, review articles and case reports related to the above aspects, with the aim of contributing to the understanding of tick-borne diseases. Accordingly, this Special Issue is open to original research, review articles, and case reports addressing aspects related to tick-borne diseases and related agents in animals and humans, including the following topics:

  • The ecology and epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne infections;
  • Microbial pathogenesis of viral, bacterial and parasitic infections in the vertebrate host;
  • The role of synanthropic wildlife in the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens;
  • Novel approaches in the monitoring and surveillance of tick-borne infections;
  • Spatio-temporal models to predict the distribution, abundance, and spread of ticks, as well as the agents transmitted, including the introduction of invasive tick species and new pathogens into previously free areas;
  • Technically sound control methods of tick populations, including symbiotic control of ticks by tick endosymbionts;
  • Recent advances in the knowledge of tick-borne infections by in vivo and in vitro experiments;
  • Frontiers in the development of anti-tick vaccines, antivirals, and antibiotics against tick-borne pathogens;
  • Novel approaches to the diagnosis and therapy of tick-borne diseases;
  • Virtuous examples of multidisciplinary collaboration in a One Health perspective in the case management of tick-borne pathogens.

Dr. Giovanni Sgroi
Guest Editor

Dr. Kandai Doi
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • public health
  • ticks
  • tick-borne disease
  • tick-borne pathogens

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2224 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Bacterial Tick-Borne Pathogens in Questing Ticks from Sambia Peninsula, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia: Spring and Autumn Prevalence and Public Health Risks
by Alexey V. Rakov, Evgenii G. Volchev, Ketevan Petremgvdlishvili and Tatiana A. Chekanova
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1403; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061403 - 16 Jun 2025
Viewed by 88
Abstract
The Kaliningrad Oblast, located in the westernmost part of Russia and bordering European Union countries, is a popular tourist destination. However, limited research has been conducted on the bacteria found in ticks in this region. We, therefore, investigated the prevalence of certain bacteria, [...] Read more.
The Kaliningrad Oblast, located in the westernmost part of Russia and bordering European Union countries, is a popular tourist destination. However, limited research has been conducted on the bacteria found in ticks in this region. We, therefore, investigated the prevalence of certain bacteria, including Borrelia, Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia, as well as the genospecies of the spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) in Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus tick species. To accomplish this, we employed commercial qPCR for pathogen screening. We identified specific genospecies by sequencing the gltA and ompA gene fragments. In I. ricinus ticks, we found Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA in 35.6% of samples. We also found Rickettsia helvetica in 17.5% of ticks. Additionally, we detected Borrelia miyamotoi in 1.7% and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 2.6%, while Ehrlichia chaffeensis/Ehrlichia muris were present in 0.6%. In D. reticulatus ticks, we detected only Rickettsia conorii subsp. raoultii DNA, with a prevalence of 6.1%. These findings demonstrate a substantial risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections from early spring through late autumn, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring for these pathogens in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Threats: Insights on Tick-Borne Diseases)
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11 pages, 1773 KiB  
Article
First Molecular Identification of Zoonotic Babesia odocoilei in Ticks from Romania
by Ioan Cristian Dreghiciu, Diana Hoffman, Simona Dumitru, Ion Oprescu, Mirela Imre, Tiana Florea, Anamaria Plesko, Vlad Iorgoni, Sorin Morariu, Gheorghe Dărăbuș and Marius Stelian Ilie
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1182; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061182 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 421
Abstract
Babesia odocoilei is an emerging zoonotic protozoan parasite primarily associated with cervids, with growing recognition among non-cervid hosts and in terms of potential public health implications. While this species has been documented in North America and parts of Europe, data on its presence [...] Read more.
Babesia odocoilei is an emerging zoonotic protozoan parasite primarily associated with cervids, with growing recognition among non-cervid hosts and in terms of potential public health implications. While this species has been documented in North America and parts of Europe, data on its presence in Romania remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Babesia spp. in ticks collected from Romania, providing new information on the existing species and their distribution, as well as their potential epidemiologic significance. A total of 41 Ixodidae ticks were collected from 184 wild boars across six counties from Western and Central Romania. Ticks were identified using morphological assessments, and DNA was extracted from the samples using a standardized protocol. The presence of Babesia spp. was assessed using real-time PCR with primers and a Taq Man probe targeting 116 bp fragments of 18S rRNA genes. Molecular analysis was used to detect Babesia spp. DNA from a single tick sample (1/41, 2.43%), identified as Dermacentor marginatus, from Timiș County. The resulting amplicons were sequenced and compared with reference sequences in GenBank for species confirmation. This finding represents the first molecular identification of B. odocoilei in questing ticks from Romania. The expanding host range and geographic distribution of B. odocoilei raise concerns regarding its zoonotic potential. The presence of this pathogen in Dermacentor marginatus ticks suggests a broader vector competence than previously recognized, and future research should focus on host reservoirs, vector competence, and potential zoonotic transmission, with an emphasis on public health implications, including potential implications for veterinary diagnostics, vector control policies, and public health awareness regarding emerging tick-borne pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Threats: Insights on Tick-Borne Diseases)
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18 pages, 1906 KiB  
Article
Molecular Typing of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodids of Bosnia and Herzegovina
by Ina Hoxha, Jovana Dervović, Margarida Ruivo, Michiel Wijnveld, Adelheid G. Obwaller, Bernhard Jäger, Martin Weiler, Julia Walochnik, Edwin Kniha and Amer Alić
Microorganisms 2025, 13(5), 1054; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051054 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 462
Abstract
Ticks are key vectors of zoonotic pathogens, and their expanding distribution in Europe heightens public health concerns. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, while tick distribution is well documented, molecular data on tick-borne pathogens remain limited. This study aimed to illustrate the presence and diversity [...] Read more.
Ticks are key vectors of zoonotic pathogens, and their expanding distribution in Europe heightens public health concerns. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, while tick distribution is well documented, molecular data on tick-borne pathogens remain limited. This study aimed to illustrate the presence and diversity of these pathogens, focusing on areas with high human activity. Ticks (n = 556) were collected in April 2022 from eight diverse locations, including urban parks, private properties, and rural sites. PCR-based screening was employed to detect Anaplasmataceae, Borrelia, Francisella, Piroplasmida, Rickettsia, and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), with subsequent sequencing to confirm results. Further characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was achieved via reverse line blotting (RLB) hybridization and sequencing. Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, followed by Dermacentor marginatus and D. reticulatus. Our analysis revealed an overall infection rate of 22.1% in questing ticks, with Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp. predominating. Notably, seven Borrelia species were identified in I. ricinus, alongside Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia helvetica, and R. monacensis, with co-infections mainly observed in peri-urban areas. This study provides the first molecular evidence of multiple tick-borne pathogens in the region, underscoring the need for further surveillance and risk assessment of tick-borne diseases in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Threats: Insights on Tick-Borne Diseases)
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