Viromic study of migratory birds and ticks in Switzerland
Wild birds, mostly migratory species, and their ticks were analyzed with next-generation sequencing. The birds were sampled in the Bole di Magaddino nature reserve in Ticino, Switzerland, to characterize viral diversity in passerines and to assess whether migratory birds facilitate the introduction of emerging or exotic viruses into Switzerland, given that their seasonal long-distance movements can transport pathogens and vectors across intercontinental ecological boundaries. We also investigated whether a birds geographic origin and migratory strategy are key determinants of virome composition.