title: Ticks of the Hyalomma marginatum complex transported by migratory birds into Central Europe.
abstract: Hyalomma ticks are well-known vectors transmitting infectious agents, which can result in severe and potentially fatal diseases in humans. Migratory birds may carry infected ticks over long distances. Here, we report on records of ticks of the H. marginatum complex in birds from Central Europe during the spring migration in 2008-2012. A total of 1172 birds belonging to 32 species, 16 families, and 3 orders was examined for ticks. Sixteen individuals of 6 passerine species were found to transport 30 ticks, identified as individuals belonging to the H. marginatum species complex (consisting of H. isaaci, H. marginatum sensu stricto, H. rufipes, H. turanicum, and H. glabrum) during 5 spring seasons. Infested bird species included the great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus, the Eurasian reed warbler A. scirpaceus, the marsh warbler A. palustris, the sedge warbler A. schoenobaenus, Savi's warbler Locustella luscinioides, and the common nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos. All of these Central European breeders are migratory species wintering in Africa. To our knowledge, this is the first study to record ticks of the H. marginatum complex on the great reed warbler and Savi's warbler.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Kvetna 8, CZ-603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: capek@ivb.cz.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capek
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1/3, CZ-612 42 Brno, Czech Republic; CEITEC VFU Brno, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1/3, CZ-612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Literak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, SK-845 05 Bratislava 4, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kocianova
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1/3, CZ-612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Oldrich
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sychra
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho tr. 1/3, CZ-612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Najer
authors.affiliation: University of Trnava, Priemyselna 4, SK-918 43 Trnava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trnka
authors.affiliation: Vilova 246, CZ-294 02 Knezmost, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kverek
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000502:physiology*; D046109:Passeriformes; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Central Europe; Hyalomma marginatum complex; Migration; Passerines; Ticks; Vector