Detection of tick‐borne pathogens in ticks from migratory birds in the Baltic region of Russia

Abstract

We report the finding of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)-virus in indigenous Ixodes ricinus (L.), 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' in exotic Ixodes frontalis (Panzer) and Rickettsia aeshlimannii in exotic Hyalomma marginatum Koch subadult ticks detached from 18.5% (107/577) infested migratory birds in the Baltic region of Russia. This is the first record of human pathogenic 'Candidatus N. mikurensis' in I. frontalis ticks. Moreover, seven other pathogens were identified in I. ricinus ticks. Spotted Fever Group rickettsiae were the predominant pathogen group and were detected only in nymphs. Future investigations are warranted to further characterize the role of birds in the epizootiology of tick-borne pathogens in this region.

Detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus in I. ricinus ticks collected from autumn migratory birds in Latvia

“…It has been reported that TBEV positive ticks were detached from birds in Estonia, Western Siberia region of Russia, Baltic region of Russia and Sweden Mikryukova et al, 2014;Movila et al, 2013;Waldenström et al, 2007). Our previous data show that Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia helvetica and Babesia spp.…”

Molecular Detection ofRickettsia africae, Rickettsia aeschlimannii,andRickettsia sibirica mongolitimonaein Camels andHyalommaspp. Ticks from Israel

“…africae could be an example of a tick-borne disease imported to another region by livestock trade, like the occurrence of SFG rickettsioses associated with this Rickettsia in the West Indies, after cattle parasitized with A. variegatum were imported from Senegal in the early 1800s (Kelly 2006). Another possible route is the carriage of infected ticks by migrating birds, because they act as transport carriers of many species of the Ixodidae family and therefore as long-distance vectors for several pathogens including Rickettsiae spp., like R. aeschlimannii (Movila et al 2012). It should be noted that Israel is located on the main route of bird migration from Africa to Europe and Asia, thus this route of introduction seems possible (Harrus et al 2011).…”

Infections with the tick-borne bacterium Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis

“…Seven species of ticks have been reported to be infected by C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis: I. ricinus [48]; I. persulcatus [5,15]; I. ovatus [1]; Ixodes frontalis [57]; Ixodes hexagonus [30]; Dermacentor reticulatus [29,30]; and Haemaphysalis concinna [13]. It should be emphasized that the infection rates of C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis are highest among the Ixodes species, indicating that these are the primary vectors; the importance of the other tick genera as vectors is disputable, as they rarely carry C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis ( Table 1).…”