[Ticks and human tick-borne diseases in Africa]

Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropod parasites that feed on the blood of every class of vertebrates in almost every region of the world. Tick bites can transmit bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases to humans. In this review we describe ticks and human tick-borne diseases in Africa. The first part of this article presents elements linking the morphology and biology of these acarians as well as various aspects of their taxonomy and phylogeny. The next part of the article describes the main human tick borne diseases in Africa with particular focus on spotted fever group rickettsioses, relapsing fever borrelioses, and Crimean-Congo fever. Information is also provided on Q fever and other tick-borne diseases as ehrlichioses, anaplasmoses, Lyme disease, and babesiosis that can and do occur in Africa. Finally this article describes methods used for the collection and identification of ticks and for control and prevention of tick bites as well as essential points for early diagnosis and management of patients who have been bitten by ticks.