Host-Vector-Pathogen Relationships: One-Health Approach to Vector-Borne Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Ticks are vectors of multiple pathogens due to their interactions with several different vertebrate hosts during their life cycle. Ticks are believed to transmit the broadest spectrum of infectious agents than any other blood-feeding vector. Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) that can afflict humans include Lyme borreliosis, babesiosis, tularemia, tick-borne encephalitis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), neoehrlichiosis, or rickettsiosis. This microbial community can influence the acquisition, transmission, and virulence of human pathogens. Furthermore, as ticks feed for extended periods, they interact with their vertebrate hosts and have the ability to suppress the host’s immune system by dampening down the immune response and binding up antibodies that the host might have made in an attempt to rid itself of these blood-sucking parasites. As a response to microbial challenge, ticks have the ability to produce an impressive humoral and cellular response. The immune response of the ticks is manipulated by microorganisms, and different pathogens use similar mechanisms to facilitate their transmission and multiplication. Ticks have the capacity to recognize microorganisms and to express various antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In ticks, AMPs form the first line of defense against pathogens in the innate immune response. AMPs may be the key to the vector competency of ticks and are considered promising candidates for the development of novel anti-infective agents. In ticks, AMPs form the first line of defense against pathogens in the innate immune response. To understand the mechanisms of microbe survival in ticks, it is relevant to deepen our knowledge about antimicrobial peptides as well as other things. Study results may be useful for developing knowledge about the insufficiently examined immune systems of the ticks and may result in developing knowledge about the effective control of tick-borne diseases in the future.

In addition to the constraints related to their diagnosis and clinical management, the control and prevention of tick-borne diseases is often difficult because it requires the disruption of a complex transmission chain that involves the vertebrate hosts and ticks that interact in a constantly changing environment. The expansion in tick populations has led to an increased risk of infection for humans and animals with both established tick-borne agents and new-emerging ones, creating a serious "One Health" problem. Given the dynamic interface among people, animals, and the environment a “One Health” approach recognizes the need for veterinarians, human doctors, and scientists to work together.

This Special Issue aims to collect original research and/or review papers concerning any aspects related to new-emerging and established tick-borne pathogens and diseases, tick–pathogen relationships, and the importance of a One-Health approach to tick-borne diseases.

Dr. Małgorzata Dmitryjuk
Dr. Katarzyna Kubiak
Prof. Dr. Olivier Sparagano
Guest Editors

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