ticks and tick-borne pathogens on the rise

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Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 3 (2012) 115–116 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases jo u rn al hom epage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ttbdis Editorial Ticks and tick-borne pathogens on the rise Keywords: Tick Pathogen Genetics Epidemiology Publication TTP7 Molecular biology Vector-borne diseases accounted for over 20% of all emerging infectious diseases recorded from 1940 to 2004 (Jones et al., 2008). The increased risks associated with ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are supported by expansion of tick populations into areas where they were previously absent and by some changes in social habits, increasing the contact between humans and ticks (Gray et al., 2009; Sumilo et al., 2006). Recent upsurges of tick-borne dis- eases include tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Central and Eastern Europe, Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) in Karnataka state of India, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in northern Turkey and the southwestern regions of the Russian Federation, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in Arizona and Baja California in the United States (Randolph, 2008; Pattnaik, 2006; Maltezou et al., 2010; McQuiston et al., 2010). New molecular technologies greatly advanced the study of ticks and TBPs. Newly developed or refined diagnostic tools have increased the efficacy and accuracy for identifying TBPs. New genetic tools and sequencing platforms have improved our pos- sibilities for characterizing ticks and TBPs at the genomic and population levels. Systems biology approaches to the study of ticks and TBPs have resulted in growing databases of transcripts and proteins expressed under different physiological conditions and at the tick–host–pathogen interface. These technologies increase our understanding of ticks and TBPs systematics, genetics, ecol- ogy, epidemiology, evolution, and molecular biology, which in turn impact on the development of risk awareness models and control measures. A new approach to characterize the changing landscape of ticks and TBPs is emerging: an integrative framework aimed to join efforts ranging from macro-ecology to molecular biology, from ‘omics’ to risk management. Recent reports clearly reflect that ticks and TBPs are on the rise, as do their risks for human and animal health worldwide. But fortunately, research and development in this area is also on the rise. Knowledge about ticks and TBPs continues to accumulate in papers published in peer-reviewed journals (Fig. 1), and the per- spectives in this field are attracting groups traditionally working with other arthropods. These trends were reflected at the Seventh International Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP7) Conference, held in Zaragoza, Spain, August 28th–September 2nd, 2011, and in the papers selected for inclusion into this special issue of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. The meeting intended to integrate sys- tematics, epidemiology, genetics, and molecular biology research on ticks and TBPs. This objective was fulfilled with 501 accepted papers presented in 8 sessions at the meeting, with the attendance of 320 delegates from 38 countries. Several conclusions could be drawn from discussions at the meeting that resume the state of the art and future directions in this area: 1. Reports on TBPs continue to increase, but lacking the neces- sary relationship between reservoir hosts, ticks, and pathogens, which need to be linked together to describe their true eco- epidemiological patterns. 2. It is necessary to switch from local, ‘closed-box’ epidemiological studies of ticks and TBPs to developing a framework that inte- grates the information of the different layers of complexity of the system. This approach would allow development of better risk assessment models. Knowledge is accumulating in this direction and several paradigms such as Lyme borreliosis are currently evolving. 3. The development of new in vitro and in vivo animal model sys- tems for ticks and TBPs is growing and will likely continue to grow in the future with an impact on research in this area. 4. While acaricides are still the most widely used control strategy for ticks and TBPs, new control strategies based on the molecular Fig. 1. Publications on ticks and tick-borne pathogens included in PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) during 2005–2011. 1877-959X/$ see front matter © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.03.001

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Page 1: Ticks and tick-borne pathogens on the rise

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Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 3 (2012) 115– 116

Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

jo u rn al hom epage: www.elsev ier .com/ locate / t tbd is

ditorial

icks and tick-borne pathogens on the rise

tems for ticks and TBPs is growing and will likely continue togrow in the future with an impact on research in this area.

4. While acaricides are still the most widely used control strategyfor ticks and TBPs, new control strategies based on the molecular

eywords:ickathogeneneticspidemiologyublicationTP7olecular biology

Vector-borne diseases accounted for over 20% of all emergingnfectious diseases recorded from 1940 to 2004 (Jones et al., 2008).he increased risks associated with ticks and tick-borne pathogensTBPs) are supported by expansion of tick populations into areashere they were previously absent and by some changes in socialabits, increasing the contact between humans and ticks (Grayt al., 2009; Sumilo et al., 2006). Recent upsurges of tick-borne dis-ases include tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Central and Easternurope, Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) in Karnataka state of India,rimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in northern Turkey andhe southwestern regions of the Russian Federation, and Rocky

ountain spotted fever (RMSF) in Arizona and Baja California inhe United States (Randolph, 2008; Pattnaik, 2006; Maltezou et al.,010; McQuiston et al., 2010).

New molecular technologies greatly advanced the study oficks and TBPs. Newly developed or refined diagnostic tools havencreased the efficacy and accuracy for identifying TBPs. Newenetic tools and sequencing platforms have improved our pos-ibilities for characterizing ticks and TBPs at the genomic andopulation levels. Systems biology approaches to the study of ticksnd TBPs have resulted in growing databases of transcripts androteins expressed under different physiological conditions andt the tick–host–pathogen interface. These technologies increaseur understanding of ticks and TBPs systematics, genetics, ecol-gy, epidemiology, evolution, and molecular biology, which in turnmpact on the development of risk awareness models and control

easures. A new approach to characterize the changing landscapef ticks and TBPs is emerging: an integrative framework aimed tooin efforts ranging from macro-ecology to molecular biology, fromomics’ to risk management.

Recent reports clearly reflect that ticks and TBPs are on theise, as do their risks for human and animal health worldwide. Butortunately, research and development in this area is also on the

ise. Knowledge about ticks and TBPs continues to accumulate inapers published in peer-reviewed journals (Fig. 1), and the per-pectives in this field are attracting groups traditionally workingith other arthropods. These trends were reflected at the Seventh

877-959X/$ – see front matter © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.ttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.03.001

International Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP7) Conference,held in Zaragoza, Spain, August 28th–September 2nd, 2011, andin the papers selected for inclusion into this special issue of Ticksand Tick-borne Diseases. The meeting intended to integrate sys-tematics, epidemiology, genetics, and molecular biology researchon ticks and TBPs. This objective was fulfilled with 501 acceptedpapers presented in 8 sessions at the meeting, with the attendanceof 320 delegates from 38 countries.

Several conclusions could be drawn from discussions at themeeting that resume the state of the art and future directions inthis area:

1. Reports on TBPs continue to increase, but lacking the neces-sary relationship between reservoir hosts, ticks, and pathogens,which need to be linked together to describe their true eco-epidemiological patterns.

2. It is necessary to switch from local, ‘closed-box’ epidemiologicalstudies of ticks and TBPs to developing a framework that inte-grates the information of the different layers of complexity of thesystem. This approach would allow development of better riskassessment models. Knowledge is accumulating in this directionand several paradigms such as Lyme borreliosis are currentlyevolving.

3. The development of new in vitro and in vivo animal model sys-

Fig. 1. Publications on ticks and tick-borne pathogens included in PubMed(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) during 2005–2011.

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biology and the biological and ecological patterns of both vectorsand pathogens are urgently needed.

. Systems biology approaches to research on ticks and TBPs aregenerating a huge amount of information, but algorithms need tobe developed to use these data for advancing knowledge on basicbiological questions and the development of improved vaccinesfor the control of ticks and TBPs.

. Although holistic approaches to the study of the interactionsbetween the components of biological systems, and how theseinteractions give rise to the function and behavior of that systemusing ‘omics’ technology are necessary to advance knowledge inthese areas, reductionist approaches focusing on specific com-ponents of the system are also valuable to address ticks and TBPsgenetics, physiology and other biological questions.

eferences

ray, J.S., Dautel, H., Estrada-Pena, A., Kahl, O., Lindgren, E., 2009. Effects of climatechange on ticks and tick-borne diseases in Europe. Interdiscip. Perspect. Infect.Dis. 2009, 593232.

ones, K.E., Patel, N.G., Levy, M.A., Storeygard, A., Balk, D., Gittleman, J.L., Daszak, P.,2008. Global trends in emerging infectious diseases. Nature 451, 990–993.

altezou, H.C., Andonova, L., Andraghetti, R., Bouloy, M., Ergonul, O., Jongejan, F.,

Kalvatchev, N., Nichol, S., Niedrig, M., Platonov, A., Thomson, G., Leitmeyer, K.,Zeller, H., 2010. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Europe: current situationcalls for preparedness. Euro Surveill. 15, 19504.

cQuiston, J., Levy, C., Traeger, M., Piontkowski, S., Stewart, T., Nicholson, W., Regan,J., 2010. Rocky Mountain spotted fever associated with Rhipicephalus sanguineus

iseases 3 (2012) 115– 116

ticks: from emergence to establishment of an enzootic focus in the United States.In: 2010 Int. Conf. Emerg. Infect. Dis., Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Pattnaik, P., 2006. Kyasanur forest disease: an epidemiological view in India. Rev.Med. Virol. 16, 151–165.

Randolph, S.E., 2008. Tick-borne encephalitis in Central and Eastern Europe: conse-quences of political transition. Microb. Infect. 10, 209–216.

Sumilo, D., Bormane, A., Asokliene, L., Lucenko, I., Vasilenko, V., Randolph, S.E., 2006.Tick-borne encephalitis in the Baltic States: identifying risk factors in space andtime. Int. J. Med. Microbiol. 296, 76–79.

José de la Fuente (Ph.D.) ∗

Instituto de Investigación en Recursos CinegéticosIREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo, s/n, 13005

Ciudad Real, SpainDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for

Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma StateUniversity, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA

Agustín Estrada-PenaDepartment of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty,

Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain

∗ Corresponding author at: Instituto deInvestigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC

(CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo, s/n, 13005

Ciudad Real, Spain.

E-mail address: jose [email protected](J. de la Fuente)