Ticks and tick-borne diseases in Asia with special emphasis on China

An international conference on the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases sponsored by the European Commission was held in Shanghai between 11 and 15 September 2000. Participants from China, Europe, Australia, India, Iran, Israel, Japan and Thailand attended the meeting. The main objectives were: (1) determining the current situation concerning the epidemiology, economics, diagnosis and integrated control measures of ticks and tick-borne diseases caused by protozoan and rickettsial pathogens; (2) the creation of regional and international research networks and priority settings; (3) the creation of training possibilities for young scientists; (4) the identification of new research directions and priority settings in relation to vaccine development and diagnostics. The papers presented during this meeting focused on parasite characterisation and the description of yet unidentified Theileria and Babesia species pathogenic for large and small ruminants in China. In addition, progress made in immunity and vaccine development against the pathogens mentioned above and their vector ticks was also discussed.