Abstract
Wild birds transport ticks into Canada that harbor a diversity of zoonotic pathogens. However, medical practitioners often question how these zoonotic pathogens are present in their locality. In this study, we provide the first report of an Amblyomma inornatum tick cofeeding with a blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, which parasitized a Veery, Catharus fuscescens—a neotropical songbird. Using the flagellin (flaB) gene of the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and the 18S rRNA gene of the Babesia piroplasm, a malaria-like microorganism, we detected Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Babesia odocoilei, respectively, in an I. scapularis nymph. After the molt, these ticks can bite humans. Furthermore, this is the first documentation of B. odocoilei in a tick parasitizing a bird. Our findings substantiate the fact that migratory songbirds transport neotropical ticks long distances, and import them into Canada during northward spring migration. Health care practitioners need to be aware that migratory songbirds transport pathogen-laden ticks into Canada annually, and pose an unforeseen health risk to Canadians.
Highlights
Ticks have medical and veterinary importance because they are vectors of multiple zoonotic microorganisms [1]
This female specimen was compared with confirmed A. inornatum females in the U.S National Tick Collection, matched favorably with them, and the species was confirmed as A. inornatum
We provide the first report of B. odocoilei in a tick parasitizing a bird
Summary
Ticks have medical and veterinary importance because they are vectors of multiple zoonotic microorganisms [1]. Hard-bodied ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) often harbor a wide array of bacterial, piroplasmic, and viral microorganisms, and transmit them to vertebrate hosts [1,2,3]. Wild birds provide long-distance dispersal of ixodid ticks, whereas terrestrial vertebrates facilitate short-distance movement. In the temperate zone of North America, Lyme disease and human babesiosis are the most frequent tick-borne diseases [4]. Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease caused by members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) complex, and is generally transmitted to humans by blood-feeding ticks [5]. There are at least 23 genospecies in this complex, and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto is one of the genospecies that is pathogenic to humans.
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