title: Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks collected from migratory birds in Switzerland.
abstract: The prevalence of ticks infected by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato on birds during their migrations was studied in Switzerland. A total of 1,270 birds captured at two sites were examined for tick infestation. Ixodes ricinus was the dominant tick species. Prevalences of tick infestation were 6% and 18.2% for birds migrating northward and southward, respectively. Borrelia valaisiana was the species detected most frequently in ticks, followed by Borrelia garinii and Borrelia lusitaniae. Among birds infested by infected ticks, 23% (6/26) were infested by B. lusitaniae-infected larvae. Migratory birds appear to be reservoir hosts for B. lusitaniae.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Emile Argand 11, 2007 Neuchâtel 7, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Poupon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marie-Angèle
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lommano
authors.forename: Pierre-François
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Humair
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Douet
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rais
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaad
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jenni
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gern
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000469:parasitology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013557:Switzerland; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*