Kapo Naida, Zuber Bogdanović Ivana, Gagović Ema, Jurković Žilić Daria, Sukara Ratko, Adžić Bojan, Kadriaj Përparim, Naletilić Šimun, Vodica Ani, Cvetkovikj Aleksandar, Djadjovski Igor, Potkonjak Aleksandar, Savić Sara, Tomanović Snežana, Omeragić Jasmin, Hodžić Adnan, Beck Relja
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory, Podgorica, Montenegro.
Parasit Vectors. 2025 Mar 14;18(1):107. doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06740-z.
Ixodid ticks are present throughout the Western Balkan countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, with many species serving as vectors for pathogens of both veterinary and medical importance. We have conducted a thorough examination of existing literature, encompassing historical documents, to collect information on all documented non-zoonotic tick-borne pathogens found in ticks, pets, farm animals and wild animals across the Western Balkan region. A comprehensive review was necessary due to the scarcity and scattered nature of available data from this area. The tick fauna in the Western Balkans consists of 32 species across five genera: Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma. Various pathogens responsible for diseases in animals, including bacteria and parasites, have also been documented, many of which can cause important diseases and significant reductions in animal productivity. Initial efforts were directed towards pathogen surveillance and the characterisation of non-zoonotic tick-borne pathogens, resulting in the identification of Theileria orientalis, Anaplasma bovis and Anaplasma marginale in cattle, although significant gaps remain in the current research. Studies on small ruminants have been sparse, with confirmed cases of Anaplasma ovis and Babesia ovis in sheep, but no comprehensive and systematic research on pathogens in goats. In contrast, research on canine piroplasms has identified several species, including Babesia canis and Babesia vulpes. Studies on wild animals, however, have predominantly focused on wild canines and carnivores, with limited attention given to non-zoonotic pathogens. Notably, only one study has reported non-zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in artiodactyl species and wild felids. This review is a much needed overview of existing research on non-zoonotic tick-borne diseases in the Western Balkans, including the historical context, current data and research gaps. Given the significant impact of these diseases on animal health and productivity, as well as their potential biodiversity, further comprehensive studies and the establishment of national surveillance systems for tick-borne diseases are essential for a better understanding and mitigation of their impact.
硬蜱遍布西巴尔干国家，包括阿尔巴尼亚、波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那、克罗地亚、黑山、北马其顿和塞尔维亚，许多种类的硬蜱是对兽医和医学都很重要的病原体的传播媒介。我们对现有文献进行了全面审查，包括历史文献，以收集有关在整个西巴尔干地区的蜱、宠物、农场动物和野生动物中发现的所有已记录的非人畜共患蜱传病原体的信息。由于该地区现有数据稀缺且分散，因此有必要进行全面审查。西巴尔干地区的蜱类动物群包括五个属的32个物种：硬蜱属、血蜱属、革蜱属、璃眼蜱属和扇头蜱属。也有记录表明，包括细菌和寄生虫在内的各种导致动物疾病的病原体，其中许多会引发重要疾病并显著降低动物生产力。最初的工作重点是病原体监测和非人畜共患蜱传病原体的特征描述，结果在牛群中发现了东方泰勒虫、牛无浆体和边缘无浆体，不过目前的研究仍存在重大空白。对小型反刍动物的研究较少，已确诊绵羊感染了绵羊无浆体和绵羊巴贝斯虫，但对山羊病原体没有进行全面系统的研究。相比之下，对犬梨形虫的研究已经鉴定出几个物种，包括犬巴贝斯虫和狐巴贝斯虫。然而，对野生动物的研究主要集中在野生犬科动物和食肉动物上，对非人畜共患病原体的关注有限。值得注意的是，只有一项研究报告了偶蹄目动物和野生猫科动物中的非人畜共患蜱传病原体。本综述是对西巴尔干地区非人畜共患蜱传疾病现有研究的迫切需要的概述，包括历史背景、当前数据和研究空白。鉴于这些疾病对动物健康和生产力以及潜在生物多样性的重大影响，进一步开展全面研究并建立蜱传疾病国家监测系统对于更好地了解和减轻其影响至关重要。
