What does a tick vaccine protect against? - briefly
A tick vaccine stimulates immunity against pathogens transmitted by ticks, chiefly preventing Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Some formulations also lower the risk of additional tick‑borne infections such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis.
What does a tick vaccine protect against? - in detail
A tick vaccine is designed to stimulate the immune system against specific pathogens transmitted by ticks. The primary target is the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. By exposing the host to recombinant proteins derived from the spirochete, the vaccine induces antibodies that block the organism’s ability to establish infection after a tick bite.
In addition to Lyme disease, some formulations incorporate antigens from other tick‑borne agents. These may include:
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis.
- Babesia microti, responsible for babesiosis.
- Rickettsia species that cause spotted‑fever rickettsioses.
The protective mechanism relies on:
- Production of specific IgG antibodies that recognise outer‑surface proteins of the pathogen.
- Neutralisation of the pathogen’s adhesion factors, preventing colonisation of the host’s skin and bloodstream.
- Facilitation of opsonisation and rapid clearance by phagocytic cells.
Clinical trials have demonstrated a reduction of infection rates in vaccinated individuals when exposed to infected ticks. The efficacy varies with the pathogen’s prevalence in the geographic area and the tick species involved. Consequently, a vaccine containing multiple antigens offers broader protection against the spectrum of diseases transmitted by hard ticks.