Impact of tick-borne pathogens on the health risk of soldiers.

Introduction and objective: Vector diseases are common in Europe, including Poland. Every year, 77,000 Europeans are infected with transmissive diseases as a result of contact with infected vectors. In Poland, ticks are vectors of great epidemiological importance. The most important etiological factors causing disease in humans and transmitted by ticks include bacteria of the genus Borrelia and the species Francisella tularensis, Anaplasma phagophytophilum and Coxiella burnetii; as well as tick-borne encephalitis viruses. The level of the number of diagnosed cases of vector diseases in humans is influenced by environmental conditions, the most important of which is the COVID-19 pandemic that has been spreading for two years.

Objective: The aim of the review was to assess knowledge about tick-borne diseases in humans, as well as etiological factors, epidemiology of these diseases in Poland and other European countries. Infection with pathogens can occur both during recreation in nature and during work related to a profession. Professional groups include those particularly exposed to contact with vectors and pathogens - foresters, farmers and soldiers.

Review methods: A comprehensive assessment was conducted of extant publications.

Brief description of the state of knowledge: The results of the literature research revealed that in recent years an increase in the number of people suffering from tick-borne diseases has been recorded, possibly influenced by the changing climate. The vector diseases of the greatest importance for the inhabitants of Poland include Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis.

Summary: Soldiers, as a professional group who perform their duties in an environment where there is a high risk of exposure to infected ticks, are particularly at risk of acquiring transmission of vector diseases.