Selected One Health Projects

Project lead: Prof. Niels Verhulst

Background

The Institute of Parasitology in association with the One Health Institute at the University of Zurich is leading a comprehensive research initiative focused on tick surveillance in Switzerland. This One Health project aims to investigate which tick species and pathogens are present across humans, animals, and the environment, including in urban and semi-urban settings.

Why It Matters

Ticks and the diseases they transmit pose a growing threat to both human and animal health in Switzerland. Addressing this challenge requires a holistic understanding of the complex interactions between ticks, their hosts, and the environment. While previous studies often focused on isolated aspects, this project embraces the One Health approach to provide a more complete picture.

How the Research Is Conducted

Ticks are collected from a wide range of sources, including humans, domestic animals (such as dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals), wild animals (such as foxes, deer, and rodents), and directly from the environment. Each tick is identified by species and developmental stage and tested for various pathogens, with a focus on those that can be transmitted between animals and humans (zoonoses).

What Makes It Unique

This project goes beyond traditional tick studies by laying the foundation for the development of an integrated national tick surveillance system. Moreover, it actively involves the general public, who can contribute to the scientific process by submitting tick samples - making it a truly collaborative and interdisciplinary effort rooted in the One Health philosophy.

Link to the project (in German)