Addressing knowledge gaps in the management of ticks and tick-borne diseases necessitates a One Health approach.

A One Health approach is essential to address critical gaps in tick-borne disease surveillance, prevention, and management.

This review article from Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine addresses the growing challenge of tick-borne diseases affecting both animals and humans in the United States, emphasizing the necessity of a One Health framework. The authors, drawing on multidisciplinary expertise, synthesize current knowledge across multiple tick-borne disease systems, with Lyme disease (borreliosis) highlighted as the most extensively studied. The paper identifies critical knowledge gaps in three primary domains: tick ecology, tick-borne disease epidemiology, and the management of ticks and associated diseases. As tick-borne illnesses continue to expand geographically and increase in prevalence, the review underscores that fragmented, species-specific approaches are insufficient. A One Health perspective—integrating veterinary, human, and environmental health disciplines—is presented as essential for comprehensive surveillance, prevention, and control strategies. The authors advocate for collaborative, multidisciplinary research to address gaps in understanding vector biology, host-pathogen interactions, and transmission dynamics. For veterinary practitioners, this work highlights the importance of recognizing tick-borne diseases not only in companion animals and livestock but also as zoonotic threats with significant public health implications. The review serves as both a state-of-knowledge synthesis and a call to action for more coordinated research and clinical vigilance regarding tick-borne pathogens in US animal and human populations.

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