Molecular Detection ofAnaplasma,Bartonella, andBorreliaSpecies in Ticks Collected from Migratory Birds from Hong-do Island, Republic of Korea

Abstract

Bird migration is a recurring annual and seasonal event undertaken by more than 100 species of birds in the southeast Asian and northeast Palearctic regions that pass through or remain for short periods from April to May and September to November at Hong-do Island, Republic of Korea (ROK). A total of 212 ticks (40 Haemaphysalis flava, 12 H. longicornis, 146 Ixodes turdus, 13 I. nipponensis, and 1 I. ornithophila) were collected from 65/2,161 (3.0%) migratory birds consisting of 21 species that were captured from January, 2008, through December, 2009, as part of the Migratory Birds Center, Hong-do bird banding program for studying bird migration patterns. Adult ticks were assayed individually while larvae and nymphs were pooled (1-22 and 1-6 ticks per pool, respectively) into 31 and 65 pools, respectively. Ticks were assayed for zoonotic pathogens by PCR using 16S rRNA, heat shock protein (groEL), and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene primers to amplify genera specific for Anapalsma, Bartonella, and Borrelia PCR amplicons. Using the 16S rRNA-based nested PCR, A. phagocytophilum (n=1) was detected in I. nipponensis collected from Zoothera sibirica and A. bovis (n=1) was detected in I. turdus collected from Emberiza chrysophrys. Borrelia turdi 16S rRNA genes (n=3) were detected in I. turdus and I. nipponensis collected from Turdus pallidus and Zoothera aurea. Borrelia spp. 16S rRNA genes (n=4) were detected in Ixodes ticks collected from Emberiza tristrami, T. pallidus, and Z. aurea. The Bartonella grahamii ITS gene (n=1) was detected by nested PCR assay in I. turdus collected from Z. aurea. These results provide insight into the potential role of migratory birds in the dispersal of ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens throughout their ranges in Asia.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus in South Korea and Migratory Bird Routes Between China, South Korea, and Japan

“…In addition, the tick distribution matches the bird migration flyways between China, South Korea, and Japan. 1,4,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] This also coincides with the occurrence of SFTS, suggesting that migratory birds may play a role in the dissemination of SFTSV bearing H. longicornis.…”

Ornithodoros sawaii (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae) collected from nest soil/litter of Synthliboramphus antiquus, Synthliboramphus wumizusume, and nest soil/litter and nestlings of Hydrobates monorhis on Gugul and Sogugul Islands, Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea

“…have been detected in O. sawaii collected from the Streaked Shearwater and Swinhoe's Storm Petrel in Japan (Kawabata et al 2006, Takano et al 2009). Recently, Kang et al (2013) reported Anaplasma, Bartonella, and Borrelia spp. from Ixodes spp.…”

“…In the Republic of Korea (ROK), tick-borne pathogenic bacteria [e.g., Ehrlichia and Anaplasma (Chae et al 2003, Kang et al 2013, Bartonella (Kim et al 2005, Kang et al 2013, Borrelia (Park et al 1992, Kee et al 1994, and Rickettsia spp. (Jang et al 2004, Noh et al 2017] and viruses [e.g., tick-borne encephalitis (Kim et al 2009b, Ko et al 2010) and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) , 2016] manifest varying degrees of disease nationwide.…”

“…Annual migrations of migratory seabirds to and from their breeding and feeding grounds may result in the importation of exotic tick species that are transported over long distances and to diverse environments in non-endemic regions (Kohls 1957, Hughes et al 1964, Amerson 1968, Nuttall 1984, Heath 1987, 2006, Hutcheson et al 2005, Kawabata et al 2006, Kim et al 2009a, Dietrich et al 2011, Kang et al 2013.…”

Birds and hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), with discussions about hypotheses on tick evolution

“…There is also an odd larval record of I. turdus on Rodentia: Muridae and this tick has been also found biting humans. Main references: Asanuma and Kosaka (1955), Yamaguti et al (1971), Miyamoto et al (2000), Yamauchi (2001), Kim et al (2009), Kang et al (2013), .…”