Tick-borne zoonoses and commonly used diagnostic methods in human and veterinary medicine

Abstract

Around the world, human health and animal health are closely linked in terms of the One Health concept by ticks acting as vectors for zoonotic pathogens. Animals do not only maintain tick cycles but can either be clinically affected by the same tick-borne pathogens as humans and/or play a role as reservoirs or sentinel pathogen hosts. However, the relevance of different tick-borne diseases (TBDs) may vary in human vs. veterinary medicine, which is consequently reflected by the availability of human vs. veterinary diagnostic tests. Yet, as TBDs gain importance in both fields and rare zoonotic pathogens, such as Babesia spp., are increasingly identified as causes of human disease, a One Health approach regarding development of new diagnostic tools may lead to synergistic benefits. This review gives an overview on zoonotic protozoan, bacterial and viral tick-borne pathogens worldwide, discusses commonly used diagnostic techniques for TBDs, and compares commercial availability of diagnostic tests for humans vs. domestic animals, using Germany as an example, with the aim of highlighting existing gaps and opportunities for collaboration in a One Health framework.

Keywords: Diagnostics; ELISPOT; Lyme borreliosis; Metazoonoses; One Health; PCR; Serology; Tick-borne diseases; Ticks; Zoonoses.

Fig. 1

Ixodes ricinus, confirmed vector of Babesia divergens, Babesia microti and Babesia venatorum, among numerous other pathogens (left: female, right: male). Photographs were taken under an OPTIKA SLX-2 stereomicroscope (OPTIKA S.r.l., Ponteranica, Italy)

Fig. 2

Important vectors of zoonotic tick-borne bacteria (left: females, right: males). a Dermacentor variabilis, confirmed vector of Ehrlichia canis, Rickettsia rickettsii and F. tularensis. b Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., confirmed vector of E. canis, Rickettsia conorii and R. rickettsii. c Amblyomma hebraeum, confirmed vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium and Rickettsia africae. Photographs were taken under an OPTIKA SLX-2 stereomicroscope (OPTIKA S.r.l., Ponteranica, Italy)

Fig. 3

Important vectors of zoonotic tick-borne viruses (left: females, right: males). a Dermacentor marginatus, confirmed vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV). b Dermacentor reticulatus, confirmed vector of OHFV and tick-borne encephalitis virus. c Hyalomma rufipes, confirmed vector of CCHFV. Photographs were taken under an OPTIKA SLX-2 stereomicroscope (OPTIKA S.r.l., Ponteranica, Italy)