Health risks associated with argasid ticks, transmitted pathogens, and blood parasites in Pyrenean griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) nestlings

There is a knowledge gap in the study of Argasidae soft ticks and the pathogens they can transmit. These hematophagous arthropods are widely distributed and are often considered typical bird ectoparasites. Tick-parasitized birds can act not only as a reservoir of pathogens but also can carry these p...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Moraga-Fernández, Alberto, Oliva-Vidal, Pilar, Sánchez-Sánchez, Marta, Muñoz-Hernández, Clara, Martínez, José María, Margalida, Antoni, De la Fuente, José, Fernández de Mera, Isabel G.
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Recursos:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10459.1/464363
Acesso em linha:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-023-01741-8
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/464363
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Argasids
Blood parasites
Tick-borne pathogens
Voltors
Descrição
Resumo:There is a knowledge gap in the study of Argasidae soft ticks and the pathogens they can transmit. These hematophagous arthropods are widely distributed and are often considered typical bird ectoparasites. Tick-parasitized birds can act not only as a reservoir of pathogens but also can carry these pathogen-infected arthropods to new areas. Seven griffon vulture nestlings were sampled in northeastern Spain, collecting ticks (n = 28) from two individuals and blood from each vulture (n = 7). Blood samples from griffon vultures tested PCR positive for Flavivirus (7/7), Anaplasma (6/7), piroplasms (4/7), and Rickettsia (1/7). A total of 27 of the 28 analyzed ticks were positive for Rickettsia, 9/28 for Anaplasma, 2/28 for piroplasms, and 5/28 for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFv). Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of Rickettsia spp., Babesia ardeae, and zoonotic Anaplasma phagocytophilum in vultures and Rickettsia spp., B. ardeae, and CCHFv genotype V in ticks.