One Health Approach to Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance in the United Kingdom

Nicholas Johnson, Lawrence Paul Phipps, Kayleigh M. Hansford, Arran J. Folly, Anthony R. Fooks, Jolyon M. Medlock and Karen L. Mansfield
Additional contact information
Nicholas Johnson: Vector-Borne Diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
Lawrence Paul Phipps: Vector-Borne Diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
Kayleigh M. Hansford: Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down SP4 0JG, UK
Arran J. Folly: Vector-Borne Diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
Anthony R. Fooks: International Development Team, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
Jolyon M. Medlock: Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down SP4 0JG, UK
Karen L. Mansfield: Vector-Borne Diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Woodham Lane, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Where ticks are found, tick-borne diseases can present a threat to human and animal health. The aetiology of many of these important diseases, including Lyme disease, bovine babesiosis, tick-borne fever and louping ill, have been known for decades whilst others have only recently been documented in the United Kingdom (UK). Further threats such as the importation of exotic ticks through human activity or bird migration, combined with changes to either the habitat or climate could increase the risk of tick-borne disease persistence and transmission. Prevention of tick-borne diseases for the human population and animals (both livestock and companion) is dependent on a thorough understanding of where and when pathogen transmission occurs. This information can only be gained through surveillance that seeks to identify where tick populations are distributed, which pathogens are present within those populations, and the periods of the year when ticks are active. To achieve this, a variety of approaches can be applied to enhance knowledge utilising a diverse range of stakeholders (public health professionals and veterinarians through to citizen scientists). Without this information, the application of mitigation strategies to reduce pathogen transmission and impact is compromised and the ability to monitor the effects of climate change or landscape modification on the risk of tick-borne disease is more challenging. However, as with many public and animal health interventions, there needs to be a cost-benefit assessment on the most appropriate intervention applied. This review will assess the challenges of tick-borne diseases in the UK and argue for a cross-disciplinary approach to their surveillance and control.

Keywords: tick; surveillance; pathogens; citizen science; animal health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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