Tick and tick-borne disease management requires an integrated One Health approach.

Abstract

Endemic and emerging tick-borne diseases in humans and animals in the US are becoming more frequent and are likely driven by several socioecological factors. Although numerous hard and soft ticks are of medical and veterinary significance, this review focuses on species that are most relevant for the One Health practitioner. This article presents key aspects on significant tick species and tick-borne diseases in the US. Tick biology and ecology of several ticks are discussed, including black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), western black-legged ticks (Ixodes pacificus), American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni), lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum), brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), and the recent invader, Longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis). In addition, the epidemiology of several diseases is also discussed, such as Lyme disease, spotted fever rickettsioses, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis/ehrlichiosis. Finally, management recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are provided. By integrating knowledge of key tick species, associated pathogens, and evidence-based management recommendations, this review adopts a One Health perspective to inform coordinated veterinary and human health responses to tick-borne diseases in the US. The companion Currents in One Health article by Eleftheriou et al, AJVR, June 2026, addresses research gaps and developments in tick and tick-borne disease research across biological scales.