Migrating Birds and Tickborne Encephalitis Virus

Abstract

During spring and autumn 2001, we screened 13,260 migrating birds at Ottenby Bird Observatory, Sweden, and found 3.4% were infested with ticks. Four birds, each a different passerine species, carried tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV)–infected ticks (Ixodes ricinus). Migrating birds may play a role in the geographic dispersal of TBEV-infected ticks.

Keywords

• Migratory birds
• ticks
• tickborne encephalitis virus
• TBE
• TBEV
• long-distance dispersal