Workshop: “Ticks and tick-borne diseases: From a One Health Perspective”

Ticks and the diseases they carry pose significant threats to human and animal health globally. Tick-borne illnesses such as Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rickettsiosis, Babesiosis, and Lyme borreliosis, some of which can be transmitted to humans, are common and on the rise. The incidence of tick-borne diseases has been increasing worldwide, with approximately 60,000 people contracting such illnesses (CDC, 2019).

A survey in East and Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, revealed that 22.3% of dogs and 3.7% of cats were infected with ticks, elevating the risk of tick-borne diseases in these animals. Vietnam also experiences a high prevalence of tick-borne diseases in both domestic and wild animals. However, research and awareness about these diseases need improvement, and existing prevention and treatment methods are not highly effective. Therefore, a comprehensive approach to better control and manage tick-borne diseases is crucial.

To address this issue, the Parasite Research Group at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine organized an international conference on August 26, 2021, entitled “Ticks and tick-borne diseases: From a One Health perspective,” funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund of the British Academy of Medical Sciences. Nearly 200 delegates and guests, including researchers from renowned national and international universities, such as the University of Bristol (UK), Kasesart University (Thailand), Putra University (Malaysia), Obihiro University (Japan), One Health Network (VOHUN), and the National Institute of Malaria, Parasitology, and Entomology (NIMPE), participated in the webinar.

Dr. Bui Khanh Linh, the leader of the Parasite Research Group at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, presented the research findings related to ticks and tick-borne diseases prevalent in specific regions of Northern Vietnam, garnering attention and positive evaluations from the conference attendees. Subsequent presentations by researchers from domestic and international universities and research institutes followed.

The conference facilitated lively discussions, offering suggestions, sharing research methodologies and experiences, and planning future collaborative projects and programs to combat ticks and tick-borne diseases in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam. The research team believes that this direction holds significant promise for reducing the detrimental impact of tick-borne diseases on animals, thereby contributing to the sustainable livestock production of Vietnam.Some pictures from the international webinar.