title: Virus investigation in ticks from migratory birds in Italy.
abstract: The role of migratory birds in circulation tick-borne viruses needs to be better defined. In order to assess the potential role of migratory birds in exotic virus spread, we conducted a study to identify ticks collected from migratory birds in the Central Region of Italy, and performed molecular investigation for Crimea-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHFV), West Nile fever (WNFV) and Usutu (USUV) in the vectors. A total of 137 competent ticks were collected with predominance of Hyalomma species. Although, negative results were obtained for all viruses considered, the high proportion of Hyalomma ticks highlights the potential risk for the dissemination of tick-borne viruses through infested migratory birds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immuno-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciervo
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faggioni
authors.forename: Forigio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lista
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007558:Italy; D010802:Phylogeny; D013987:Ticks / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*