TITLE:
Borrelia Burgdorferi, Ixodes Ticks and Lyme Borreliosis in Albania—Their Past, Present and Future in an Endemic Country Like Ours
AUTHORS:
Ermira Muco, Arta Karruli, Dhimiter Kraja
KEYWORDS:
Albania, Ixodes, Borrelia Burgdorferi, Lyme Borreliosis, Tick-Borne
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.7,
July
9,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Lyme borreliosis is a zoonotic spirochetal disease of global importance. It has a wide geographic spread, including Albania. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of Ixodes ricinus ticks. There are not many publications about this pathology in Albania. The first publications date back to the 1980s, when the first cases were described. Aim: This review aimed to describe the situation of Lyme borreliosis in Albania and across other countries with similar climate and geographical conditions. Methods: We searched the literature for articles by Albanian and foreign authors to provide data about its transmission vector, the tick, its clinical form, spread, prevalence, and its presence in animals. Also, we searched for articles on the Lyme borreliosis situation in Albania. Results and Conclusions: It was evidenced that there are several endemic regions in our country, with a wide range of clinical manifestations from erythema migrans to severe neurological patterns. However, the real incidence in Albania could be higher due to most cases that go undetected. It is of great importance to monitor the disease, paying attention to prophylactic methods on tick infection, and offering relevant advice to the population that lives or temporarily goes there, thus reducing the risk of infection to the maximum.