39One Health" Approach to Prevention and Treatment of Tick-Borne Babesiosis: Research Advances in Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines

Babesiosis, recognized as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), imposes a substantial public health burden on developing nations and represents a critical “One Health” concern. This zoonosis, caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia, transmits primarily via tick vectors, with secondary routes including blood transfusions and transplacental transfer. Infections in mammals often lead to fetal loss or mortality, while immunocompromised individuals risk iatrogenic transmission through contaminated blood products or organ transplants, amplifying outbreak potential. Diverse drug sensitivities among Babesia species necessitate tailored therapeutic regimens. Moreover, prolonged subtherapeutic drug use in pastoral systems results in resistance, turning livestock into cryptic carriers. Pharmaceutical residues accumulating in ecosystems disrupt microbial communities, inadvertently fostering tick proliferation and exacerbating vector-borne disease cycles. The efficacy of the existing veterinary vaccines targeting tick vectors is limited by the incomplete understanding of immune evasion mechanisms, such as antigenic variation in Babesia virulence genes. Effective management of babesiosis is essential for mitigating economic losses in livestock production and safeguarding the health of companion animals amid escalating zoonotic threats. This study synthesizes empirical evidence on tick-mediated transmission dynamics and therapeutic advances, proposing a “One Health” framework to harmonize antiparasitic treatment evaluation with translational strategies for pastoral and domestic animal management. By integrating parasitological insights with ecological and clinical data, we advance sustainable control paradigms while strengthening surveillance infrastructure to address evolving challenges under global ecological pressures.