Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in the Balkans

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Ticks".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 4373

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: tick-borne disease diagnostics; pathogen isolation; pathogen detection; vaccines; assay development
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions, Skopje, North Macedonia
Interests: tick-borne diseases; viral hemorrhagic fevers; vector-borne diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the present landscape, numerous accounts highlight the emergence of previously neglected, undetected, or misdiagnosed tick-borne pathogens and associated diseases in the Balkans. As the focal point of this Special Issue, we delve into the clinical spectrum, unique characteristics, and effective treatment modalities for tick-borne diseases in the Balkan region. This Special Issue will also focus on the detection and description of tick-borne pathogens in ticks, animals or humans within the Balkan peninsula.  We invite contributions that provide insights into the prevalence and characteristics of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, as well as those that describe clinical aspects, address diagnostic challenges, and propose effective treatment approaches for tick-borne infections in the Balkans, fostering a deeper understanding of these diseases among healthcare practitioners and researchers.

This Special Issue is open to all researchers involved in research on ticks, tick-borne pathogens and the diseases they cause in the Balkan region; original research articles, reviews and case reports are welcome.

Dr. Pavle Banović
Dr. Dejan Jakimovski
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • ticks
  • tick-borne pathogens
  • tick-borne diseases
  • the Balkan region
  • prevalence
  • characteristics

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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8 pages, 908 KiB  
Article
Serological Assessment of Lyme borreliosis in Bulgaria: A Nationwide Study
by Kim Ngoc, Iva Trifonova, Teodora Gladnishka, Evgenia Taseva, Elitsa Panayotova, Iva Vladimirova, Vladislava Ivanova, Eleonora Kuteva and Iva Christova
Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090754 - 2 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 854
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB), a tick-borne infection caused by bacteria in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, is increasingly prevalent on the Balkan Peninsula, including Bulgaria, where it is the most common tick-borne disease. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of LB across [...] Read more.
Lyme borreliosis (LB), a tick-borne infection caused by bacteria in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, is increasingly prevalent on the Balkan Peninsula, including Bulgaria, where it is the most common tick-borne disease. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of LB across Bulgaria by analyzing 1892 serum samples for specific IgG antibodies using a two-tier testing protocol involving an ELISA and immunoblot methods. The results revealed an overall seroprevalence rate of 5.4%, with significant variation based on age, sex, and residence. Seroprevalence increased with age, peaking at 8.4% in individuals over 65 years. Males had a seroprevalence of 8.4% compared to 3.3% in females, and rural residents showed higher seroprevalence (10.2%) compared to urban residents (4.4%). Regional analysis indicated that seroprevalence ranged from 0.0% to 20.0%, with higher rates in northern provinces such as Gabrovo (18.9%) and Targovishte (20.0%). This study highlights the importance of two-step testing protocols for accurate diagnosis and underscores the need for increased awareness and further research to enhance public health measures and the management of LB in Bulgaria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in the Balkans)
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11 pages, 2397 KiB  
Article
Tick-Borne Pathogens in Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks from Bosnia and Herzegovina
by Teufik Goletić, Darinka Klarić Soldo, Naida Kapo, Šejla Goletić, Amira Koro-Spahić, Amra Alispahić, Adis Softić, Vedad Škapur and Jasmin Omeragić
Pathogens 2024, 13(5), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13050421 - 16 May 2024
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Abstract
Dermacentor (D.) reticulatus ticks carry and transmit a wide range of pathogens to vertebrate hosts. Limited information is available about the existence of emerging tick-borne pathogens and the distribution of D. reticulatus in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study aimed to investigate the occurrence [...] Read more.
Dermacentor (D.) reticulatus ticks carry and transmit a wide range of pathogens to vertebrate hosts. Limited information is available about the existence of emerging tick-borne pathogens and the distribution of D. reticulatus in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study aimed to investigate the occurrence and distribution of D. reticulatus and to detect the presence of Anaplasma spp., Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia spp., and Babesia spp. in samples originating from questing ticks and ticks collected from domestic animals in various regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 402 collected D. reticulatus ticks were widely distributed throughout the country. Of the 41 pools consisting of 205 individual D. reticulatus ticks, 21 (51.2%) indicated the presence of Rickettsia spp., 17 (41.4%) of Babesia spp., 2 (4.8%) of Anaplasma spp., and 1 (2.4%) of B. burgdorferi s.l. after real-time PCR screening. Our study indicates that D. reticulatus has significantly expanded its distribution and host range in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Moreover, our results represent the first detection of Babesia spp. in D. reticulatus in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Given the demonstrated presence of emerging pathogens in questing and feeding ticks, there is an urge to establish a surveillance system for ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in the Balkans)
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11 pages, 1050 KiB  
Case Report
Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infection in a Two-Year-Old Child Returning from Switzerland (July–August 2023): Is It Time for TBE Immunization of Serbian Travelers?
by Verica Simin, Ognjen Ležakov, Ivana Bogdan, Dragana Mijatović, Dragana Gazibara, Lidija Popović-Dragonjić, Gordana Vijatov Đurić, Borko Milanović, Jelena Kesić, Andrea Đuretić, Ágota Ábrahám, Zsófia Lanszki, Gábor Kemenesi, Brigitta Zana, Krisztián Bányai, Zbigniew Zając, Dejan Jakimovski, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz and Pavle Banović
Pathogens 2024, 13(11), 1013; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13111013 - 18 Nov 2024
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Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a vaccine-preventable viral infection that poses significant public health challenges, particularly in regions where tick-borne diseases are endemic. This case report describes a 2-year-old boy with confirmed abortive TBEV infection following a tick bite during travel to Switzerland. The [...] Read more.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a vaccine-preventable viral infection that poses significant public health challenges, particularly in regions where tick-borne diseases are endemic. This case report describes a 2-year-old boy with confirmed abortive TBEV infection following a tick bite during travel to Switzerland. The patient developed fever and mild symptoms but did not exhibit central nervous system involvement. The case underscores the importance of raising awareness among healthcare providers and travelers from non-endemic areas, such as Serbia, about TBE risk and the potential benefits of preventive vaccination. Strategic immunization campaigns could mitigate the public health impact of travel-related TBE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in the Balkans)
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