Ornithological and molecular evidence of a reproducing Hyalomma rufipes population under continental climate in Europe

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Veterinary Science

Béla Kalocsa¹  Zsolt Karcza¹  Attila Huber²  József Gyurácz³  Attila Mórocz⁴  Orsolya Kiss⁵  Enikő Anna Tamás⁶  Anikó Benke⁷  Ákos Németh⁸  Tibor Csörgő⁹  Sándor Hornok^1,10  Gergő Keve^1,10  Attila D. Sándor^1,11  Dávid Kováts^1,12 

[1] BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;Aggtelek National Park Directorate, Jósvafő, Hungary;BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;Department of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Savaria, Szombathely, Hungary;BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;Duna-Dráva National Park Directorate, Pécs, Hungary;BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Sciences and Wildlife Management, University of Szeged, Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary;BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;Faculty of Water Sciences, University of Public Service, Baja, Hungary;BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;Fenékpuszta Bird Ringing Station, Keszthely, Hungary;BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;Kiskunság National Park Directorate, Kecskemét, Hungary;Kiskunság Bird Protection Association, Izsák, Hungary;Department of Anatomy, Cell- and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary;Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary;BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary;ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary;Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary;ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary;Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania;Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary;BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary;Hungarian Biodiversity Research Society, Budapest, Hungary;

关键词: bird migration;    Ixodes;    Haemaphysalis;    Hyalomma;    Central Europe;    Hungary;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fvets.2023.1147186

 received in 2023-01-18, accepted in 2023-02-22,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Reports on adult Hyalomma ticks in certain regions of the Carpathian Basin date back to the 19th century. These ticks were thought to emerge from nymphs dropping from birds, then molting to adults. Although the role of migratory birds in carrying ticks of this genus is known from all parts of Europe, in most countries no contemporaneous multiregional surveillance of bird-associated ticks was reported which could allow the recognition of hotspots in this context. From 38 passeriform bird species 956 ixodid ticks were collected at seven locations in Hungary. Tick species were identified as Ixodes ricinus (n = 598), Ixodes frontalis (n = 18), Ixodes lividus (n = 6), Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 321), and D. reticulatus (n = 1). All 12 Hyalomma sp. ticks (11 engorged nymphs and 1 unengorged larva) were identified as H. rufipes based on three mitochondrial markers. This species was only found in the Transdanubian region and along its southeastern border. The Common Blackbird and the European Robin were the two main hosts of I. ricinus and I. frontalis, whereas H. concinna was almost exclusively collected form long-distance migrants. The predominant hosts of H. rufipes were reed-associated bird species, the Sedge Warbler and the Bearded Reedling, both in their nesting period. This study provides ornithological explanation for the regional, century-long presence of adult Hyalomma ticks under continental climate in the Transdanubian Region of the Carpathian Basin. More importantly, the autochthonous occurrence of a H. rufipes population was revealed for the first time in Europe, based on the following observations: (1) the bird species infested with H. rufipes are not known to migrate during their nesting period; (2) one larva was not yet engorged; (3) the larva and the nymphs must have belonged to different local generations; and (4) all H. rufipes found in the relevant location were identical in their haplotypes based on three maternally inherited mitochondrial markers, probably reflecting founder effect. This study also demonstrated regional and temporal differences in tick species carried by birds.

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Copyright © 2023 Keve, Csörgő, Benke, Huber, Mórocz, Németh, Kalocsa, Tamás, Gyurácz, Kiss, Kováts, Sándor, Karcza and Hornok.