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Keve G, Csörgő T, Kováts D, Benke A, Bende AT, Ágoston H, Mórocz A, Németh Á, Tamás EA, Huber A, Gyurácz J, Keve G, Kontschán J, Németh A, Hornok S. Contributions to our knowledge on avian louse flies (Hippoboscidae: Ornithomyinae) with the first European record of the African species Ornithoctona laticornis. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:237. [PMID: 38797857 PMCID: PMC11129389 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06303-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Louse flies (Diptera, Hippoboscidae) are important blood-sucking parasites of birds and mammals with a worldwide distribution. The aim of our study was to collect louse flies from birds across multiple sites in Hungary and evaluate the effects of avian traits on louse fly-host relationships. METHODS Between 2015 and 2022, 237 louse flies were collected from birds at multiple locations in Hungary. The louse flies were identified to species level by morphological and molecular methods. Louse fly species and their seasonal dynamics were analyzed. RESULTS Six louse fly species were identified: Ornithomya avicularia, Ornithomya fringillina, Ornithomya biloba, Ornithomya chloropus, Ornithoica turdi and Ornithoctona laticornis. Results of statistical analyses indicated that habitat, migration habits and the feeding places of birds have significant effects on their possible role as hosts of O. avicularia, O. fringillina and O. turdi. Analysis of the temporal distribution of avian louse flies showed different seasonal patterns according to species. Phylogenetic analyses highlighted that O. turdi clustered separately from other members of the subfamily Ornithomyinae which thus did not form a monophyletic group. CONCLUSIONS This study presents one of the longest continuous collections of ornithophilic louse fly species in Europe so far. Avian traits were shown to influence louse-fly infestation. To our best knowledge, this is the first report on O. laticornis in Europe. The ability of this African louse fly species to survive in Europe, as demonstrated in the present study, may be an indication of its future establishment. Our findings, in accordance with previous reports, also indicated that the subfamily Ornithomyinae should be taxonomically revised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergő Keve
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Tibor Csörgő
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- MME BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Kováts
- MME BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Biodiversity-Research Society, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anikó Benke
- MME BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Fenékpuszta Bird Ringing Station, Fenékpuszta, Hungary
| | - Attila Tibor Bende
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Management, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary
| | - Hunor Ágoston
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Management, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary
| | - Attila Mórocz
- MME BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Duna-Dráva National Park Directorate, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ákos Németh
- MME BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Kiskunság National Park Directorate, Kecskemét, Hungary
- Kiskunság Bird Protection Association, Izsák, Hungary
| | - Enikő Anna Tamás
- MME BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Faculty of Water Sciences, LUDOVIKA University of Public Service, Baja, Hungary
| | - Attila Huber
- MME BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Aggtelek National Park Directorate, Jósvafő, Hungary
| | - József Gyurácz
- MME BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Biology, Savaria Campus, Eötvös Loránd University, Szombathely, Hungary
| | - Gábor Keve
- Faculty of Water Sciences, LUDOVIKA University of Public Service, Baja, Hungary
| | - Jenő Kontschán
- Plant Protection Institute, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Plant Sciences, Albert Kázmér Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences of Széchenyi, István University in Mosonmagyaróvár, Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary
| | - Anna Németh
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
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Pitó A, Bukor B, Győrig E, Brlík V, Kontschán J, Keve G, Takács N, Hornok S. Investigations of the tick burden on passeriform, water-associated and predatory birds reveal new tick-host associations and habitat-related factors of tick infestation. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:144. [PMID: 38500221 PMCID: PMC10949810 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06229-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies on the tick infestation of birds in the Carpathian Basin focused on songbirds (Passeriformes). Thus, the primary aim of the present work was to extend the scope of previous studies, i.e. to include aquatic (water-associated) bird species in a similar context, especially considering that these birds are usually long-distance migrants. METHODS Between March 2021 and August 2023, 11,919 birds representing 126 species were checked for the presence of ticks. From 352 birds belonging to 40 species, 905 ixodid ticks were collected. Tick species were identified morphologically and/or molecularly. RESULTS Ticks from avian hosts belonged to seven species: Ixodes ricinus (n = 448), I. frontalis (n = 31), I. festai (n = 2), I. arboricola (n = 36), I. lividus (n = 4), Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 382) and Dermacentor reticulatus (n = 2). Nymphs of I. ricinus occurred with a single activity peak around March-May, whereas its larvae typically infested birds in May, June or July. By contrast, H. concinna usually had its activity maximum during the summer (nymphs in June-July, larvae later in July-August). Interestingly, two ornithophilic species, I. frontalis and I. arboricola, were most active around winter months (between October and April). A significantly lower ratio of aquatic birds was found tick-infested than songbirds. Several new tick-host associations were revealed, including I. ricinus from Greylag Goose (Anser anser) and D. reticulatus from Great Egret (Ardea alba) and Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus). Ticks were collected for the first time in Europe from two species of predatory birds as well as from Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus). Bird species typically inhabiting reedbeds were most frequently infested with H. concinna, and most ticks localized at their throat, as opposed to forest-dwelling avian hosts, on which I. ricinus predominated and ticks were more evenly distributed. CONCLUSIONS In the evaluated region, aquatic birds appear to be less important in tick dispersal than songbirds. However, newly revealed tick-host associations in this category attest to their hitherto neglected contribution. The results suggest that the habitat type will have significant impact not only on the species composition but also on the feeding location of ticks on birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andor Pitó
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Boglárka Bukor
- HUN-REN-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Pf. 1158, 8210, Veszprém, Hungary
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | | | - Vojtěch Brlík
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jenő Kontschán
- Plant Protection Institute, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Plant Sciences, Albert Kázmér Faculty of Mosonmagyaróvár, Széchenyi István University, Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary
| | - Gergő Keve
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nóra Takács
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
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Keve G, Csörgő T, Kováts D, Hornok S. Long term evaluation of factors influencing the association of ixodid ticks with birds in Central Europe, Hungary. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4958. [PMID: 38418856 PMCID: PMC10902401 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55021-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Birds play a crucial role in disseminating ticks that carry pathogens of high veterinary-medical importance. The aim of this study was to analyze data of a long-term tick collection from birds at a single stop-over site in Central Europe, Hungary. Over eight years (2015-2022) 5833 ticks (ten species) were collected from 2395 tick-infested birds. The most abundant species were Ixodes ricinus (n = 3971) and Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 1706). Ixodes ricinus nymphs and larvae were the most frequently occurring on resident and short-distance migratory birds with forest habitat but Ha. concinna was the most abundant species on reed-associated, long-distance migrants. Haemaphysalis concinna occurred mostly on birds feeding above the ground level, while I. ricinus predominated on ground feeding birds. Infestation with I. ricinus nymphs always peaked in the first half of the year, in contrast to larvae which were more abundant on avian hosts in the autumn. At the same time, Ha. concinna larvae and nymphs had their peak numbers in the summer. This is the first long-term study on the tick infestation of birds in Central Europe. The study shows that, migration distance, habitat type, and typical feeding level of birds, as well as characteristics of tick life cycle are all key factors in the role of birds as tick disseminators. It was revealed that Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides) is the most frequent hosts of Ha. concinna in Central Hungary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergő Keve
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Tibor Csörgő
- Department of Anatomy, Cell- and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Kováts
- Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary
- BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Biodiversity Research Society, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
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Bacak E, Ozsemir AC, Akyildiz G, Gungor U, Bente D, Keles AG, Beskardes V, Kar S. Bidirectional tick transport by migratory birds of the African-Western Palearctic flyway over Turkish Thrace: observation of the current situation and future projection. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:37. [PMID: 38087074 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08069-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
This study was carried out at a vital stopover site of migrating birds in the Turkish Thrace, European part of Turkey, on the Mediterranean/Black Sea Flyway. Ticks were collected from the birds captured in the four migration periods, i.e., autumn 2020, spring 2021, autumn 2021, and spring 2022, and identified morphologically. Throughout the study, 10,651 birds from 77 species were examined, and 671 belonging to 34 species were found infested. The infestation prevalence in total birds and the mean number of ticks per infested bird were 6.3% and 3.8 (range: 1-142), respectively. A total of 2573 ticks were collected with the following species distribution and numbers: Ixodes spp. 70 larvae, I. frontalis 1829 larvae, 337 nymphs, and 30 adults, I. acuminatus 16 nymphs and 42 adults, I. ricinus 39 larvae, 141 nymphs, and one adult, Hyalomma spp. seven larvae and 60 nymphs, and Haemaphysalis sp. one larva. Prevalence, intensity, and species distribution of the ticks in birds varied depending on the month, season, year, and species-specific migration phenology of the birds. The results show that precise determination of the tick-borne risk associated with migratory birds for a particular region necessarily requires long-term and comprehensive studies and indicates that anthropogenic climate change and habitat degradation can significantly differentiate the risk by influencing the migration phenology in birds and by making new regions suitable for the establishment of different ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ergun Bacak
- Vocational School of Forestry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Gurkan Akyildiz
- Department of Basic Health Sciences, Health Sciences Faculty, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Umut Gungor
- Department of Forest Engineering, Institute of Graduate Studies, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Dennis Bente
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Aysen Gargili Keles
- Department of Basic Health Sciences, Health Sciences Faculty, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Vedat Beskardes
- Department of Forest Entomology and Protection, Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sirri Kar
- Department of Biology, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, 59030 Suleymanpasa, Tekirdag, Turkey.
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Mancuso E, Di Domenico M, Di Gialleonardo L, Menegon M, Toma L, Di Luca M, Casale F, Di Donato G, D’Onofrio L, De Rosa A, Riello S, Ferri A, Serra L, Monaco F. Tick Species Diversity and Molecular Identification of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae Collected from Migratory Birds Arriving from Africa. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2036. [PMID: 37630596 PMCID: PMC10458931 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of migratory birds in the spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens along their routes from Africa to Europe is increasingly emerging. Wild birds can host several tick species, often infected by bacteria responsible for zoonoses. The aim of the study is to assess the possible introduction of exotic ticks carried by migratory birds into Italy from Africa and to detect the presence of Rickettsia species and Coxiella burnetii they may harbor. During a two-year survey, we collected ticks from migratory birds captured during their short stop-over on Ventotene Island. Specimens were first identified by morphology or sequencing molecular targets when needed, and then tested by real-time PCR for the presence of selected pathogens. A total of 91% of the collection consisted of sub-Saharan ticks, more than 50% of which were infected by Rickettsia species belonging to the spotted fever group, mainly represented by R. aeschlimannii. In contrast, the suspected C. burnetii detected in two soft ticks were confirmed as Coxiella-like endosymbionts and not the pathogen. Although there are still gaps in the knowledge of this dispersal process, our findings confirm the role of migratory birds in the spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, suggesting the need for a continuous surveillance to monitor the potential emergence of new diseases in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Mancuso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Marco Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Luigina Di Gialleonardo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Michela Menegon
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.T.); (M.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Luciano Toma
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.T.); (M.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Marco Di Luca
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.T.); (M.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Francesca Casale
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.T.); (M.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Guido Di Donato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Laura D’Onofrio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Angela De Rosa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Sara Riello
- Riserva Naturale Statale “Isole di Ventotene e Santo Stefano”, 04031 Ventotene, Italy;
| | - Andrea Ferri
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (A.F.); (L.S.)
| | - Lorenzo Serra
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (A.F.); (L.S.)
| | - Federica Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
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