Ixodid ticks from wild and domestic animals in East and Central Asian flyways
Journal
Acta Tropica
Journal Volume
249
Date Issued
2024-01-01
Author(s)
Byun, Hye Ryung
Rieu, Mi Sun
Han, Sun Woo
Ji, Seong Ryeong
Nam, Hyun Young
Seo, Seulgi
Choi, Chang Yong
Linh, Bui Khanh
Thanh, Hien Le
Kaewthamasorn, Morakot
Sahara, Ana
Galay, Remil L.
Erdenechimeg, Tuvshinjargal
Batbayar, Nyambayar
Matsui, Shin
Kawaji, Noritomo
Moulin, Anna
Yu, Yat tung
Avais, Muhammad
Chae, Joon Seok
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases have a significant impact on human and animal populations, posing an increasing threat to public health, particularly in the context of climate change. Along with the various natural hosts of ticks, birds play a notable role in transmitting ticks and tick-borne pathogens, indicating the importance of monitoring flyways and establishing a cooperative network for comprehensive surveillance and to collect diverse tick samples across various regions. This study aimed to develop an international network for surveillance of disease, collection of sufficient tick samples, and overall identification of the geographical distribution of host and ticks in Asian regions, especially in 11 countries on East Asian and Central Asian flyways. Ticks were collected from wild animals, domestic animals, and vegetation to identify the differences between Ixodid ticks and understand tick distribution. We collected a total 6,624 of ticks from 11 collaborating Asian countries, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia and Pakistan. We identified 17 host animals and 47 species of both residential and migratory birds. Ticks from birds collected from four countries (ROK, Japan, Hong Kong and Mongolia) belonged to two genera, Haemaphysalis and Ixodes, including Haemaphysalis (H.) longicornis, H. flava, H. concinna, H. hystricis, H. formosensis, Ixodes (I.) nipponensis and I. persulcatus. The potential of migratory birds to cross ecological barriers with ticks and tick-borne diseases indicated the need for further investigations to understand the migration of birds as potential vectors and the new influx of zoonotic diseases along migratory bird flyways. This study suggests the potential risk of spreading tick-borne diseases through birds, thus highlighting the importance of international cooperative networking.
Subjects
Asian flyway | Geographical distribution | International networking | Ticks | Wild birds
Type
journal article