What vaccine is given against ticks? - briefly
There is no vaccine that directly protects against tick attachment. Vaccines are available for some tick‑borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease, though they are limited and not universally administered.
What vaccine is given against ticks? - in detail
Vaccination directly against tick attachment does not exist for humans. Immunizations target the pathogens that ticks transmit.
Human vaccines related to tick‑borne diseases:
- Tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccines such as FSME‑Immun, Encepur, and Ticovac. They induce immunity to the TBE virus, reducing the risk of severe neurologic disease after a tick bite.
- Lyme disease vaccines are not currently licensed in the United States. LYMErix, a recombinant OspA vaccine, was withdrawn from the market in 2002. Several candidates (e.g., VLA15, Icosavax) remain in clinical development and aim to protect against Borrelia burgdorferi.
- Other emerging candidates target multiple Borrelia species or co‑circulating pathogens, but none have received regulatory approval yet.
Veterinary vaccines that reduce tick infestations:
- Bm86‑based products (TickGARD, Gavac) for cattle. The recombinant Bm86 antigen, derived from the gut of Rhipicephalus microplus, stimulates antibodies that damage feeding ticks, lowering tick counts and the transmission of Babesia, Anaplasma, and Theileria.
- Recombinant vaccines for dogs, such as those containing tick salivary proteins, are under experimental investigation; no commercially available product provides complete protection.
- Sheep and goat vaccines targeting Haemaphysalis species have been tested in limited trials, showing modest reductions in tick burden.
Mechanism of action in animal vaccines: host antibodies bind to tick gut or salivary antigens, impairing blood digestion and reproduction, which leads to decreased tick survival and reduced pathogen transmission.
In summary, human immunizations focus on diseases carried by ticks rather than the arthropod itself, while livestock vaccines employ tick‑specific antigens to diminish infestation and disease spread. No approved human vaccine prevents tick attachment.