Abstract
Ticks are widely distributed across the globe, serving as hosts for numerous pathogens that make them major contributors to zoonotic parasitosis. Borrelia burgdorferi is a bacterial species that causes an emerging zoonotic tick-borne disease known as Lyme borreliosis. The role of ticks in the transmission of this pathogen was explored in this study. According to this systematic review, undertaken according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 19 tick species are known to carry Borrelia burgdorferi, with more than half of the recorded cases in the last two decades related to Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes scapularis ticks. Forty-six studies from four continents, Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa, reported this pathogen in ticks collected from vegetation, animals, and humans. This study highlights an increasing distribution of tick-associated Borrelia burgdorferi, likely driven by accelerated tick population increases in response to climate change coupled with tick dispersal via migratory birds. This updated catalogue helps in compiling all tick species responsible for the transmission of B. burgdorferi across the globe. Gaps in research exist on Borrelia burgdorferi in continents such as Asia and Africa, and in considering environmentally friendly vector control strategies in Europe and North America.
Highlights
One-third of the emergence in infectious diseases during last two decades is due to zoonotic vector-borne diseases, which have major devastating effects on human and veterinary health and welfare [1]
New species are still being identified within this complex, which contains 21 species to date [7]. It is primarily comprised of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii, which are common in Europe and Asia, and B. burgdorferi in North America but is associated
This review demonstrates that the number of tick species vectoring B. burgdorferi is increasing, reaching 19 to date
Summary
One-third of the emergence in infectious diseases during last two decades is due to zoonotic vector-borne diseases, which have major devastating effects on human and veterinary health and welfare [1]. Transmission channels of tick-borne infections must be well understood to mitigate livestock production losses and impacts on animal welfare and reduce disease exposure in humans [4]. This is especially important given that tick-borne zoonosis is increasing in the twenty-first century, driven largely by climate change impacts on tick lifecycles and the transboundary movement of tick-infested animals [5]. New species are still being identified within this complex, which contains 21 species to date [7] It is primarily comprised of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii, which are common in Europe and Asia, and B. burgdorferi in North America but is associated
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