An Alarming Public Health Problem: Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Urban Recreational Parks.

Abstract

Ticks function as critical vectors for a wide range of pathogens that pose significant risks to both human and animal health. In recent years, the number and diversity of tick-borne pathogens have increased at an unprecedented rate, elevating tick-borne diseases (TBDs) to a major public health concern on a global scale. TBDs present a dual challenge, not only affecting human populations but also causing substantial economic losses in livestock industries across the world. The geographic distribution of many TBDs is shifting, with emerging, re-emerging, and resurging cases influenced by environmental factors such as deforestation and climate change. In China, rapid urbanization and concurrent improvements in urban ecological conditions have contributed to the expansion of tick habitats and increased human exposure to tick populations. Recent research warns that ticks and their associated pathogens present significant risks in urban environments, particularly in locations such as parks, playgrounds, and zoos. Despite these threats, public awareness of tick-borne diseases remains critically low. This review consolidates current knowledge on tick species and tick-borne pathogens found in urban parks and proposes strategic control measures to inform effective tick management policies both in China and globally.