Diseases Transmitted by Ticks (Original PDF from Publisher)

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the incidence of tick-borne diseases affecting humans has seen a significant rise. This surge is largely attributed to increased travel and exposure to exotic environments. Ticks are notorious vectors of various debilitating diseases, including European tick-borne encephalitis, Russian summer-spring encephalitis, and Lyme disease, which are prevalent in America, Europe, and Asia.

The Importance of Ticks as Disease Vectors

Despite concerted efforts to combat ticks, no method has been able to provide complete eradication, and the risk of tick-borne disease transmission remains. Ticks continue to be the primary vectors in the transmission of numerous infectious diseases. The diseases primarily transmitted to humans from ticks include:

• Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF)
• Lyme disease
• Q fever
• Mediterranean spotted fever
• Monocytic ehrlichiosis
• Granulocytic ehrlichiosis
• Babesiosis

Besides posing severe health risks to humans, ticks also inflict significant economic losses on livestock. This group of diseases is more common than perceived and can become chronic or severe, resulting in death if left undiagnosed.

The Complexity of Tick-Borne Diseases