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Beware of hitchhiking ticks? Clarifying the variable roles of bird families in tick movement along migratory routes
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  • Lars Burnus,
  • Joe Wynn,
  • Miriam Liedvogel,
  • Robert Rollins
Lars Burnus
Carl von Ossietzky Universitat Oldenburg
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Joe Wynn
Institute of Avian Research
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Miriam Liedvogel
Institute of Avian Research
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Robert Rollins
Institute of Avian Research

Corresponding Author:robert.rollins@ifv-vogelwarte.de

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Abstract

Ticks are blood-feeding parasites which act as major vectors for various pathogenic microorganisms affecting both animal and human health. Hard ticks are known to “hitchhike” on migratory birds as they transit from breeding to overwintering grounds in spring and autumn, potentially leading to exchange and establishment of non-endemic tick species in novel environments. That said, it is not yet clear which migratory bird taxa play a role in movement of specific tick genera and what influence migratory season may have. To fill this knowledge gap, we performed a systematic literature review regarding primary data of ticks moving on migratory birds within the African-Western Palearctic flyways. In total, 34 studies were found which showed 123 bird species from 37 families connected to potential movement of 26 tick species representing six genera (Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes, Rhipicephalus). Statistical analysis showed bird families (Ixodes: Turdidae, Prunellidae; Hyalomma: Turdidae, Strigidae, Muscicapidae, Motacillidae, Emerizidae) which carried above average number of ticks were only found for interactions with Hyalomma and Ixodes ticks with below average estimates found for all tick genera besides Rhipicephalus. Contrary to expectation, no tick genus, which was found in both migratory seasons, was estimated to have increased numbers in one season or the other. In certain cases, tick genera (e.g., Amblyomma) were only found on birds during spring migration. This pattern could highlight that the assemblage of ticks present on a bird at capture does not represent the ticks present at the point of migratory departure, highlighting an understudied importance of stopover sites to potential tick introduction or turnover. Taken together, the results presented here provide guiding information for further analysis into species specific interactions which will allow for the integration of individual level variation into understanding the risk of tick movement with migratory birds and potential for emergent disease.
Submitted to Journal of Avian Biology
20 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Feb 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
07 Jun 20241st Revision Received
07 Jun 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
16 Sep 20242nd Revision Received
16 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
16 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
16 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Accept