Ticks of Turkey in Health Perspective

Abstract

Ticks are one of the most important vector arthropods that play a role in the transmission of over 200 pathogens to humans. There are over 900 tick species which are ectoparasite of almost vertebrates in the world. Turkey is in the temperate climatic zone and has suitable habitat for ticks, and, it is on the migration route of birds between Europe, Asia and Africa. In addition, the history of animal husbandry in these lands date back thousands of years. Eventually, Turkey is a country with tick and tick born diseases diversity. It is known that ticks are vectors to various pathogens such as CCHF virus, Borrelia sp., Rickettsia sp., Babesia sp., and Anaplasma sp. in Turkey. In order to better understand these diseases and to develop control methods, the eco-epidemiology of ticks and their relationship with humans should be well known. In this chapter, tick taxonomy in Turkey, their host selectivity, geographical distribution, frequency, ticks species attached to humans and their importance in terms of public health were reviewed. © 2022 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.