Controlling ticks and tick-borne diseases…looking forward

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2018 Jul;9(5):1354-1357. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.04.001. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

Abstract

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) represent a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. Several approaches including the use of chemicals with repellency and parasiticidal activity, habitat management, genetic selection of hosts with higher resistance to ticks, and vaccines have been implemented for reducing the risk of TBDs. However, the application of latest gene editing technologies in combination with vaccines likely combining tick and pathogen derived antigens and other control measures should result in the development of effective, safe, and environmentally sound integrated control programs for the prevention and control of TBDs. This paper is not a review of current approaches for the control of ticks and TBDs, but an opinion about future directions in this area.

Keywords: Autocidal; Genome editing; Microbiota; Omics; Paratransgenesis; Tick; Vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Communicable Disease Control / methods
  • Communicable Disease Control / trends*
  • Gene Editing / methods
  • Gene Editing / trends
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Tick Infestations / prevention & control*
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Ticks / genetics*
  • Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Vaccines