The vector and rodent-borne diseases are a heavy burden on public health in much of the tropical and semitropical regions of the world; among these diseases are malaria, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, many arboviruses and a plethora of other infections. Despite their largely temperate climates, Europe, the USA and Canada have not been spared by this group of infections; moreover, some endemic diseases thought to have been under control in these regions are now resurging and new infections are emerging on both continents. Co-infections of HIV virus and leishmaniasis and of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis, pose diagnostic and treatment problems to clinicians. Ecological and climate changes have favoured increases in the densities of insect and tick vectors and rodent reservoir hosts and in the agents they transmit. With increased travel to tropical disease–endemic areas, the number of imported cases of malaria and other vector-borne diseases has sharply risen and some of these have become established, with grave consequences.

The following chapters will review the status of the vector and rodent-borne diseases which are endemic or imported into Europe and the USA and Canada as well as the literature describing their epidemiology, incidence, distribution, vectors and reservoir hosts. Emphasis will be placed on the epidemiology of the infections rather than on clinical aspects or treatment. To plan the prevention and control of this group of infections, knowledge of their epidemiology and distribution is essential for public health officials and health scientists; clinicians must be aware of the infections they may encounter to ensure a rapid diagnosis and timely treatment, especially those introduced from abroad.