The control of Hyalomma ticks, vectors of the Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus: Where are we now and where are we going?

Sarah Bonnet (1, 2) , Gwenaël Vourc’h (3) , Alice Raffetin (4, 5, 6) , Alessandra Falchi (7) , Julie Figoni (8) , Johanna Fite (9) , Thierry Hoch (10) , Sara Moutailler (11) , Elsa Quillery (9)

1 DEPT SA - Département Santé Animale
2 Écologie et Émergence des Pathogènes Transmis par les Arthropodes / Ecology and Emergence of Arthropod-borne Pathogens
3 UMR EPIA - Unité Mixte de Recherche d'Épidémiologie des maladies Animales et zoonotiques
4 CHIV - Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Villeneuve-Saint-Georges
5 DYNAMIC - Dynamic Microbiology - EA 7380
6 EpiMAI USC - Epidémiologie des maladies animales infectieuses
7 Università di Corsica Pasquale Paoli [Université de Corse Pascal Paoli]
8 Santé publique France - French National Public Health Agency [Saint-Maurice, France]
9 DER - Direction de l'Evaluation des Risques
10 BIOEPAR - Biologie, Epidémiologie et analyse de risque en Santé Animale
11 BIPAR - Biologie moléculaire et immunologie parasitaires et fongiques

At a time of major global, societal, and environmental changes, the shifting distribution of pathogen vectors represents a real danger in certain regions of the world as generating opportunities for emergency. For example, the recent arrival of the Hyalomma marginatum ticks in southern France and the concurrent appearance of cases of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF)—a disease vectored by this tick species—in neighboring Spain raises many concerns about the associated risks for the European continent. This context has created an urgent need for effective methods for control, surveillance, and risk assessment for ticks and tick-borne diseases with a particular concern regarding Hyalomma sp. Here, we then review the current body of knowledge on different methods of tick control—including chemical, biological, genetical, immunological, and ecological methods—and the latest developments in the field, with a focus on those that have been tested against ticks from the genus Hyalomma. In the absence of a fully and unique efficient approach, we demonstrated that integrated pest management combining several approaches adapted to the local context and species is currently the best strategy for tick control together with a rational use of acaricide. Continued efforts are needed to develop and implement new and innovative methods of tick control.

Domaines: Santé publique et épidémiologie

Sarah Bonnet, Gwenaël Vourc’h, Alice Raffetin, Alessandra Falchi, Julie Figoni, et al.. The control of Hyalomma ticks, vectors of the Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus: Where are we now and where are we going?. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2022, 16 (11), pp.e0010846. ⟨10.1371/journal.pntd.0010846⟩. ⟨hal-03876119⟩