Ticks are vectors for a number of infections caused by pathogens such as bacteria (Anaplasma sp. Borrelia spp. Bartolella sp., Neoehrlichia sp.), viruses and protozoa (Babesia spp.).
Diagnosis of tick-borne infections is complicated due to non-specific symptoms of the diseases.
Co-infections, where ticks harbour more than one type of pathogen, are quite common. This makes the diagnosis of the infection even more difficult.