Update on tick-borne bacterial diseases in Europe

Abstract

In recent years, the prevalence of tick-borne bacterial diseases has significantly increased in European countries. The emergence and reemergence of these illnesses are attributed to changes in the environment and human behavior. Several diseases are caused by bacteria initially isolated from ticks and subsequently considered pathogenic. It is necessary to consider the bacteria found in arthropods capable of biting humans as potential human pathogens. Here we review the clinical and epidemiological data on bacterial tick-borne diseases in European countries. We focus on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of tick-borne rickettsioses and give an overview of other tick-borne illnesses as well as the emergence and re-emergence of these diseases.