Diseases and pathogenic agents transmitted by ticks in Switzerland

Among the 20 tick species described in Switzerland, Ixodes ricinus, the most frequent one, is implicated in the transmission of pathogenic agents. Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are the major tick-borne diseases transmitted to human. Presently 5 Borrelia species, belonging to the group Borrelia burgdorferi, are recognized as human pathogens. The risks of infection depend on the stage of the vector, the multiple hosts, the pathogenic agent, as well as human behavior in nature. The detection of other pathogenic agents in ticks: Anaplasma, Babesia and Rickettsia predispose to infections or co-infections. Results of sero-epidemiologic studies suggest human infections. Active surveillance by physicians is necessary and clinical studies are required to evaluate the importance of these infections in Switzerland.