Scott John D, Clark Kerry L, Durden Lance A
International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, 2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 700, Chevy Chase, MD 20185-7007, USA.
Environmental Epidemiology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.
Healthcare (Basel). 2019 Mar 20;7(1):46. doi: 10.3390/healthcare7010046.
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 tick cofeeding with a blacklegged tick, , which parasitized a Veery, -a neotropical songbird. Using the flagellin () gene of the Lyme disease bacterium, sensu lato, and the 18S rRNA gene of the piroplasm, a malaria-like microorganism, we detected sensu stricto and , respectively, in an nymph. After the molt, these ticks can bite humans. Furthermore, this is the first-ever documentation of 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.
野生鸟类将携带多种人畜共患病原体的蜱虫带入加拿大。然而，医学从业者常常质疑这些人畜共患病原体是如何在他们所在地区出现的。在本研究中，我们首次报告了一只蜱虫与一只黑脚蜱共同取食的情况，这只黑脚蜱寄生在一只栗胁林莺（一种新热带区鸣禽）身上。利用莱姆病狭义细菌的鞭毛蛋白（）基因以及类疟原虫微生物巴贝斯虫的18S rRNA基因，我们分别在一只蜱若虫中检测到了狭义伯氏疏螺旋体和巴贝斯虫。蜕皮后，这些蜱虫会叮咬人类。此外，这是首次在寄生鸟类的蜱虫中记录到巴贝斯虫。我们的研究结果证实了迁徙鸣禽会将新热带区的蜱虫远距离携带，并在春季向北迁徙期间将它们带入加拿大这一事实。医疗从业者需要意识到，迁徙鸣禽每年都会将携带病原体的蜱虫带入加拿大，给加拿大人带来意想不到的健康风险。
