Introduction: Ticks in a Changing Climate
摘要
Changes in climate vary greatly with the worldwide spread and population of ticks, thereby intensifying the spread of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). Ticks are obligate hematophagous (actively feed on blood) ectoparasites and act as vectors for many animal and human pathogens. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation have a great contribution towards the survival, growth, and behavior of ticks. Due to climate change, the world is facing a rise in temperature and a shift in the normal rainfall. This leads to other suitable habitats for various tick species, resulting in colonization of new regions. This increases the risk of human exposure to diseases caused by ticks in places that were formerly devoid of such diseases. Warmer temperatures accelerate the development of seasonal ticks and prolong their periods of activity, thereby increasing the risk of disease transmission. Altered migration patterns and changes in the populations of key tick hosts, including deer and rodents, further intensify climate-based changes to the populations of ticks and pathogens. These shifts have diverse ecological consequences that involve the interplay of ticks, hosts, and pathogens in multiple landscapes. There is an escalating risk posed by changes to tick populations owing to the climate, highlighting the need to manage these shifts from multiple angles.