A new book published by Éditions Quae (Tiques et santé : biologie, maladies, maîtrise du risque [« Ticks and Health: Biology, Diseases, Risk Management »], free PDF, in French) paints a comprehensive picture of ticks in the context of climate disruption and ecological imbalances. It describes tick biology and the risks they pose to human and animal health. At the European scale, ticks are responsible for the majority of vector-borne diseases transmitted to humans. They represent the most significant public health risk.
The book first presents key elements on the biology and ecology of these parasites: habitats, preferred hosts, pathogens transmitted, bite risk, most heavily infested areas… Strategies are then proposed, both at the individual level (behavioural adaptations, possible recourse to vaccination) and at the collective level (improved management of contact zones between natural spaces and inhabited areas). It advocates, without alarmism, for a vigilance-based approach.