Tick Infestation in Migratory Birds of the Vistula River Valley, Poland

Abstract

Migratory birds play an important role in the eco-epidemiology of tick-borne diseases due to their ability to carry ticks for long distances. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and factors influencing the intensity of tick infestation in migratory birds. The study was conducted in a locality situated in the Vistula River valley, eastern Poland, during autumn, when the high migratory activity of birds is registered in the region. The birds were captured using ornithological nets and identified at the species level. In the next step, they were carefully inspected for attached ticks. Tick infestation was observed in 4.43% of the captured birds. The highest mean intensity of tick infestation was observed in birds foraging on the ground or in low shrubs and by long- and medium-distance migrants, i.e., Turdus merula (2.73), T. philomelos (2.04), and Erithacus rubecula (1.58). Ixodes ricinus was found to infest the birds most frequently. However, other tick species, i.e., I. trianguliceps, I. crenulatus (synonym I. canisuga), and I. apronophorus, rarely found in eastern Poland, were also found parasitizing birds. The occurrence of I. persulcatus, I. frontalis, and I. acuminatus (synonym I. redikorzevi) was confirmed in the region for the first time. The results of the study suggest that captured bird species are susceptible to tick infestation and could play an important role in the circulation of some tick-borne pathogens. They also play a significant role in the spread of ticks. The ecology and ethology of birds, including their foraging styles and migratory habits, are factors determining the risk of exposure of birds to tick attacks.

Ticks and Tick-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens from Wild Birds in Northwestern Coastal Spain

“…The bird species in our study, mostly passerines, showed a remarkable 2.5% tick prevalence, consistent with other studies across Europe, such as the prevalence of 1.7% reported in Greece [39], 3.1% in Germany [40], 4.4% in Poland [41], or 2.0% in Sweden-Denmark [42], but far from the 58.0% reported in a Lyme endemic area in Switzerland [43], 41.1% in Czechia [44], 36.7% in Slovakia and Czechia [45], or 32.4% (Mafra, Lisboa) and 16.7% (Coimbra) reported in two forested areas in western Portugal [46]. A detailed analysis of the epidemiological studies carried out in Europe in the last 30 years (Table S2) revealed great methodological differences between them, both in geographical and climatic characteristics of the studied areas, diversity, and abundance of bird species and other tick host animals, or in the capture period.…”

A unified evolutionary framework for understanding parasite infection and host migratory behaviour

“…low infection costs (Bensch et al 2007; Kleijn et al 2010; Bengtsson et al, 2016, but see (Asghar et al 2011; van Dijk et al 2015). Interestingly, of the three bird studies where there was a pattern of infection with migration, the parasites sampled were either helminths (Vestbo et al, 2019 or arthropods (Sándor et al, 2014; Zając et al, 2022; Table S1). That said, studies on birds most often found no difference in infection intensity between migrants and residents.…”

The Eurasian shrew and vole tick Ixodes trianguliceps: geographical distribution, climate preference, and pathogens detected

“…At the Kaliszany Ornithological Station, I. trianguliceps were collected from blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla and song thrushes Turdus philomelos (Zajac et al. 2022 ).…”

“…( 2010 ) 4 l Poland Nowak-Chmura ( 2013 ) 1 l Poland Zajac et al. ( 2022 ) 1 l Romania Coipan et al. ( 2011 ) 3 l Romania Mihalca et al.…”