title: Serological evidence of exposure to zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in pheasants (Phasianus colchicus).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies on tick-borne pathogens in the avian population have focused mainly on the detection of the agents in ticks collected from birds, but data about the presence of tick-borne bacteria in these animals are scant. The aim of the presented study was to verify the exposure to some zoonotic tick-borne bacteria, in particular, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, and the Rickettsia species of the Spotted Fever Group (SFG), in pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) living in a central Italy area, characterized by conditions favourable for the diffusion of the ticks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood serum samples from 276 farm-reared pheasants were examined by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test to detect antibodies against the 4 reported pathogens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 124 (44.92%) birds resulted as seropositive: in particular 3 (1.08%) to C. burnetii, 31 (11.23%) to A. phagocytophilum, 46 (16.67%) to B. burgdorferi s.l., 49 (17.75%) to SFG Rickettsia spp. antigens. Three pheasants resulted positive both to A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s.l. antigens, whereas 2 - both to B. burgdorferi s.l. and SFG Rickettsia spp. antigens. The antibody titers varied from 1:40-1:320.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results show that the pheasants had developed antibodies to the investigated tick-borne agents. For this reason, they seem to be involved in the epidemiology of the studied tick-borne bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa.
authors.forename: Valentina Virginia
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Ebani
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertelloni
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D046094:Galliformes / Q000276:immunology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000276:immunology*; D007558:Italy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial