Tickborne Diseases and Their Vectors
A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Infection Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 120
Special Issue Editor
Interests: tickborne diseases; ticks; zoonotic diseases; veterinary parasitology; molecular parasitology; molecular diagnostics; proteomics and genomics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Ticks are a major group of arthropod vectors, characterized by the diversity of pathogens they transmit, their impact on human and animal health, and their socioeconomic implications, especially in countries in the Southern Hemisphere. They spread a variety of infective agents such as protozoans, viruses, and bacteria. Tick infestation and tickborne pathogens cause major challenges for farmers in villages. They account for huge global economic losses, estimated at USD 30 billion globally, including USD 160 million in Africa and USD 29 million in South Africa annually. Understanding ticks is of primary importance in animal and human health because of the role that they play in transmitting various disease-causing pathogens.
Tickborne diseases are common occurrences in both medical and veterinary clinical settings. In addition to constraints related to their diagnosis and clinical management, the control and prevention of these diseases is often difficult, because it requires the disruption of a complex transmission chain involving vertebrate hosts and ticks, which interact in a constantly changing environment. Ectoparasites and endoparasites of livestock are among the disease-causing agents with the highest negative impacts on the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers, and some are classified by their neglected zoonosis.
We request research studies on molecular taxonomy and the identification of ticks, molecular biology, genetic diversity, disease mapping and modelling, veterinary medicine, vector control, molecular diagnostics, host–parasite interactions, etc. Examples of themes that might be included are ticks, Anaplasma, Babesia, Theileria, Trypanosoma, Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, etc. Studies involving multidisciplinary approaches aiding the management of tick populations and tickborne diseases in an effective and environmentally acceptable manner are welcome.
I look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Moses Sibusiso Mtshali
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- ticks
- tickborne pathogens
- epidemiology of tickborne diseases
- zoonotic diseases
- molecular diagnosis
- genetic diversity
- immunology
- vector control and mapping
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