Key Information: The World Health Organization (WHO) champions the "One Health" concept, an interdisciplinary strategy focusing on how diseases transmit between animals and humans to enhance public health safeguards. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human and animal health along with their shared environment. "One Health" is particularly crucial for understanding the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), which often involve complex infection chains that include various life stages of ticks (such as questing larvae, feeding nymphs, and adult ticks), as well as wildlife, domestic animals, livestock, and humans. Most epidemiological studies, however, tend to focus on just one of these factors within a confined area.

Effective implementation of the One Health strategies necessitates collaboration among key stakeholders, including veterinarians, physicians, acarologists, and researchers. It also requires identifying and understanding the infection chains that connect ticks, animals, and humans. By doing so, we can achieve more effective management and control of tick-borne diseases. To tackle this challenge, we propose a study into the potential circulation of TBPs among ticks, animals, and humans within specific epidemiological contexts.

Current Focus and Collaborative Efforts: Our research is currently centered on conducting studies across different ecological settings and at the tick-human interface to deepen our understanding of the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). By focusing on how these pathogens circulate among ticks, animals, and humans, we aim to uncover the critical factors that lead to human exposure and disease transmission. This effort involves a detailed study of infection chains that include various life stages of ticks, as well as wildlife, domestic animals, livestock, and humans, thereby improving our grasp of these complex ecological interactions.

In this context, the Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases (BAVBD) represents a significant initiative to unite efforts against the increasing health threats posed by vector-borne diseases in the Balkan region. Recognizing the severe impact these illnesses can have on public health, we are committed to our mission to control, combat, and mitigate the spread of vector-borne diseases. For more information on our efforts and how to get involved, visit BAVBD.

Through the application of One Health approaches, we are dedicated to identifying and analyzing the chains of infection that lead to human exposure to TBPs. This integrated approach not only helps in managing existing diseases but also in anticipating and preventing future outbreaks.