Ticks, as vectors of several notorious zoonotic pathogens, represent an important and increasing threat for human and animal health in Europe. Recent applications of new technology revealed the complexity of the tick microbiome, which may affect its vectorial capacity. Appreciation of these complex systems is expanding our understanding of tick-borne pathogens, leading us to evolve a more integrated view that embraces the 'pathobiome'; the pathogenic agent integrated within its abiotic and biotic environments. In this review, we will explore how this new vision will revolutionize our understanding of tick-borne diseases. We will discuss the implications in terms of future research approaches that will enable us to efficiently prevent and control the threat posed by ticks.

Department of Parasitology and Zoology Faculty of Veterinary Science Szent István University Budapest Hungary

Fondazione Edmund Mach Research and Innovation Centre San Michele all'Adige Trento Italy

INRA UMR 1300 BioEpAR Nantes France

INRA UMR BIPAR INRA ANSES ENVA Maisons Alfort France

INRA UR 346 Epidémiologie Animale Saint Genès Champanelle France

Institute of Vertebrate Biology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v v i Brno Czech Republic

Institute of Zoology Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava Slovakia

National Centre for Vector Entomology Institute of Parasitology Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich Zürich Switzerland

University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Cluj Napoca Romania

University of East London School of Health Sport and Bioscience London UK

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