Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland.
Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 23;19(21):13781. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192113781.
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., (2.73), (2.04), and (1.58). was found to infest the birds most frequently. However, other tick species, i.e., , (synonym ), and , rarely found in eastern Poland, were also found parasitizing birds. The occurrence of , , and (synonym ) 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.
候鸟在蜱传疾病的生态流行病学中发挥着重要作用，因为它们能够携带蜱进行长途迁徙。本研究旨在调查候鸟中蜱类感染的流行情况和影响因素。研究在波兰东部维斯瓦河谷的一个地点进行，该地点位于鸟类迁徙高峰期的秋季。使用鸟类网捕获鸟类，并在物种水平上对其进行鉴定。下一步，仔细检查鸟类身上是否附着蜱虫。在捕获的鸟类中，有 4.43%观察到蜱类感染。在地面或低灌木中觅食的鸟类以及长距离和中距离迁徙的鸟类中，蜱类感染的平均强度最高，分别为 (2.73)、 (2.04) 和 (1.58)。 最常寄生鸟类。然而，其他在波兰东部很少见的蜱种，如 、 （同义词 ）和 ，也寄生在鸟类身上。首次在该地区确认了 、 和 （同义词 ）的存在。研究结果表明，捕获的鸟类物种易受蜱类感染，并可能在一些蜱传病原体的传播中发挥重要作用。它们还在蜱类的传播中发挥了重要作用。鸟类的生态学和行为学，包括它们的觅食方式和迁徙习惯，是决定鸟类暴露于蜱虫攻击风险的因素。
