Wide spectrum of tick-borne pathogens in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from autumn-migrating birds in the Vistula River Valley, Poland
Abstract Background Migratory birds serve as potential hosts for ticks and can be reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of TBPs in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from Erithacus rubecula, Turdus merula, and Turdus philomelos passing throu...
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BMC
2024-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04415-y |
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| author | Joanna Kulisz Zbigniew Zając Angelique Foucault-Simonin Aneta Woźniak Maciej Filipiuk Janusz Kloskowski Robert Rudolf Alexandra Corduneanu Katarzyna Bartosik Sara Moutailler Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz |
| author_facet | Joanna Kulisz Zbigniew Zając Angelique Foucault-Simonin Aneta Woźniak Maciej Filipiuk Janusz Kloskowski Robert Rudolf Alexandra Corduneanu Katarzyna Bartosik Sara Moutailler Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz |
| author_sort | Joanna Kulisz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Migratory birds serve as potential hosts for ticks and can be reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of TBPs in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from Erithacus rubecula, Turdus merula, and Turdus philomelos passing through the Vistula River Valley, Poland — one of the most important European north-south routes for migratory birds. Methods To detect TBPs in collected ticks we used a high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR method. In addition, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of Borreliella garinii flaB and Rickettsia helvetica ompB sequences, considering haplotype diversity through a Median Joining Network. Results Our results showed a high prevalence and wide spectrum of TBPs in both larvae and nymphs of I. ricinus. Overall, including co-infections, 47.41% of the tested tick specimens were infected with at least one TBP. Borreliaceae spirochetes were detected in ticks collected from all examined bird species. Ticks (larvae and nymphs) collected from T. merula showed the highest prevalence of Bo. garinii (33.33%), Bo. burgdorferi s.s. (7.69%) and Borrelia miyamotoi (2.56%), while the highest number of ticks infected with Bo. valaisiana were collected from T. philomelos (8.11%). In turn, the highest prevalence of R. helvetica (20.00%) was observed in ticks collected from E. rubecula. Additionally, infections with A. phagocytophilum (5.00%), Ehrlichia spp. (2.50%), Ba. divergens (2.50%) and Ba. venatorum (2.50%) were only confirmed in ticks collected from this bird species. The phylogenetic analysis of Bo. garinii revealed that the detected haplotype circulates widely across various hosts and is geographically widespread, while the haplotype of R. helvetica is mainly detected in ticks in Central Europe. Conclusions Ticks carried by T. merula, T. philomelos, and E. rubecula migrating along the Vistula River Valley, Poland are characterized by a high prevalence and a wide spectrum of detected TBPs. Tested ticks carry widespread strains of Bo. garinii, in contrast to R. helvetica, which is mainly found in Central Europe. Therefore, further research on the possible role of birds as reservoirs of TBPs is needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-298aec11fd964bb3941cf715692e5cdb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1746-6148 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj-art-298aec11fd964bb3941cf715692e5cdb2025-08-20T02:20:41ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482024-12-0120111310.1186/s12917-024-04415-yWide spectrum of tick-borne pathogens in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from autumn-migrating birds in the Vistula River Valley, PolandJoanna Kulisz0Zbigniew Zając1Angelique Foucault-Simonin2Aneta Woźniak3Maciej Filipiuk4Janusz Kloskowski5Robert Rudolf6Alexandra Corduneanu7Katarzyna Bartosik8Sara Moutailler9Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz10Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of LublinDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of LublinAnses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of LublinDepartment of Zoology and Nature Protection, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie- Skłodowska UniversityInstitute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life SciencesKaliszany Ornithological StationDepartment of Animal Breeding and Animal Production, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary MedicineDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of LublinAnses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleAnses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleAbstract Background Migratory birds serve as potential hosts for ticks and can be reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of TBPs in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from Erithacus rubecula, Turdus merula, and Turdus philomelos passing through the Vistula River Valley, Poland — one of the most important European north-south routes for migratory birds. Methods To detect TBPs in collected ticks we used a high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR method. In addition, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of Borreliella garinii flaB and Rickettsia helvetica ompB sequences, considering haplotype diversity through a Median Joining Network. Results Our results showed a high prevalence and wide spectrum of TBPs in both larvae and nymphs of I. ricinus. Overall, including co-infections, 47.41% of the tested tick specimens were infected with at least one TBP. Borreliaceae spirochetes were detected in ticks collected from all examined bird species. Ticks (larvae and nymphs) collected from T. merula showed the highest prevalence of Bo. garinii (33.33%), Bo. burgdorferi s.s. (7.69%) and Borrelia miyamotoi (2.56%), while the highest number of ticks infected with Bo. valaisiana were collected from T. philomelos (8.11%). In turn, the highest prevalence of R. helvetica (20.00%) was observed in ticks collected from E. rubecula. Additionally, infections with A. phagocytophilum (5.00%), Ehrlichia spp. (2.50%), Ba. divergens (2.50%) and Ba. venatorum (2.50%) were only confirmed in ticks collected from this bird species. The phylogenetic analysis of Bo. garinii revealed that the detected haplotype circulates widely across various hosts and is geographically widespread, while the haplotype of R. helvetica is mainly detected in ticks in Central Europe. Conclusions Ticks carried by T. merula, T. philomelos, and E. rubecula migrating along the Vistula River Valley, Poland are characterized by a high prevalence and a wide spectrum of detected TBPs. Tested ticks carry widespread strains of Bo. garinii, in contrast to R. helvetica, which is mainly found in Central Europe. Therefore, further research on the possible role of birds as reservoirs of TBPs is needed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04415-yTicksIxodes ricinusTick-borne pathogensBirdsPathogen-host interactions |
| spellingShingle | Joanna Kulisz Zbigniew Zając Angelique Foucault-Simonin Aneta Woźniak Maciej Filipiuk Janusz Kloskowski Robert Rudolf Alexandra Corduneanu Katarzyna Bartosik Sara Moutailler Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz Wide spectrum of tick-borne pathogens in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from autumn-migrating birds in the Vistula River Valley, Poland BMC Veterinary Research Ticks Ixodes ricinus Tick-borne pathogens Birds Pathogen-host interactions |
| title | Wide spectrum of tick-borne pathogens in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from autumn-migrating birds in the Vistula River Valley, Poland |
| title_full | Wide spectrum of tick-borne pathogens in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from autumn-migrating birds in the Vistula River Valley, Poland |
| title_fullStr | Wide spectrum of tick-borne pathogens in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from autumn-migrating birds in the Vistula River Valley, Poland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wide spectrum of tick-borne pathogens in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from autumn-migrating birds in the Vistula River Valley, Poland |
| title_short | Wide spectrum of tick-borne pathogens in juvenile Ixodes ricinus collected from autumn-migrating birds in the Vistula River Valley, Poland |
| title_sort | wide spectrum of tick borne pathogens in juvenile ixodes ricinus collected from autumn migrating birds in the vistula river valley poland |
| topic | Ticks Ixodes ricinus Tick-borne pathogens Birds Pathogen-host interactions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04415-y |
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