Abstract
During spring and autumn 2001, we screened 13,260 migrating birds at Ottenby Bird Observatory, Sweden, and found 3.4% were infested with ticks. Four birds, each a different passerine species, carried tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV)–infected ticks (Ixodes ricinus). Migrating birds may play a role in the geographic dispersal of TBEV-infected ticks.
Highlights
During spring and autumn 2001, we screened 13,260 migrating birds at Ottenby Bird Observatory, Sweden, and found 3.4% were infested with ticks
Our study found that some ticks attached to birds carried tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV)
The frequency of TBEV among such ticks was less than the frequency of Borrelia burgdorferi senso lato from similar datasets [6,7,8]
Summary
During spring and autumn 2001, we screened 13,260 migrating birds at Ottenby Bird Observatory, Sweden, and found 3.4% were infested with ticks. Geographic distribution of TBEV subtypes largely follows that of their tick hosts: I. ricinus (Europe) and I. persulcatus (from Far East to the Baltic countries) [4]. I. ricinus ticks take blood meals from birds, which has led to speculation that birds could disperse TBEV-infected ticks during migration and start new TBE foci. Autumn migration directions (arrows) of tree pipits (Anthus trivialis), robins (Erithacus rubecula), redstarts (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), and song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) banded in southeastern Sweden (area indicated by a square) and recovered within 60 days. Bird species infested with ticks during the spring and autumn migration periods
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