Emerging Infectious Diseases (Oct 2001)

Ehrlichia-Infected Ticks on Migrating Birds

  • Anneli Bjöersdorff,
  • Sven Bergström,
  • Robert F. Massung,
  • Paul D. Haemig,
  • Björn Olsen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0705.017517
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 5
pp. 877 – 879

Abstract

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During the spring of 1996, an estimated 581,395 Ehrlichia-infected ticks were imported into Sweden by migrating birds. Ehrlichia gene sequences found in ticks collected from these migrating birds were identical to those of granulocytic ehrlichiosis found in domestic animals and humans in Sweden. These findings support the idea that birds may play a role in dispersing Ehrlichia.

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