Importation of Hyalomma marginatum, vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, into the United Kingdom by migratory birds

Lisa J. Jameson; Peter J. Morgan; Jolyon M. Medlock; George Watola; Alexander G.C. Vaux

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.12.002

Importation of Hyalomma marginatum, vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, into the United Kingdom by migratory birds

Lisa J. Jameson^*, Peter J. Morgan, Jolyon M. Medlock, George Watola, Alexander G.C. Vaux

^*Corresponding author for this work

ERD Science and Technology

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Abstract

Hyalomma marginatum ticks are an important vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus which can result in a severe and potentially fatal disease in humans. Given the continued emergence of clinical cases in Eurasia and focalised upsurges of . H. marginatum populations in Europe, it seemed prudent to assess the potential of this vector species to be introduced into the United Kingdom. Immature forms of . H. marginatum are frequent ectoparasites of passerine birds many of which migrate from Africa to the UK each spring. Incoming birds were inspected for ticks during the spring migration in 2010 and 2011. A total of 68 ticks was collected from 971 birds (29 bird species), 21% (14) of the ticks were identified as . H. marginatum. . Oenanthe oenanthe (Northern wheatear) and . Sylvia communis (Whitethroat) were found to be infested by this tick in both years and with multiple ticks. Single specimens were also removed from . Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (Sedge warbler) and . Phoenicurus phoenicurus (Common redstart) in 2010. This study provides the first contemporary evidence for substantial importation of this tick species into the UK.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	95-99
Number of pages	5
Journal	Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
Volume	3
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.12.002
Publication status	Published - Apr 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research would not have been possible without the assistance of Martin Cade and the many visiting ringers at Portland Bird Observatory. The authors would also like to credit and thank Martin Cade for the photographs included in this publication, Steve Leach (HPA) for his constructive comments on this manuscript, and Christopher Logue (HPA) for testing the ticks. Verification of identification of Hy. marginatum immatures was kindly provided by Professor Ali Bouattour, Head of the Unit of Medical Entomology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia. This work was funded by HPA Strategic R&D Fund (UKVECTOR), National Institute for Health Research . The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the HPA, FERA, NHS, NIHR, or the Department of Health.

Keywords

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus
Hyalomma marginatum
Migratory birds
Tick

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.12.002

Cite this

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title = "Importation of Hyalomma marginatum, vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, into the United Kingdom by migratory birds",

abstract = "Hyalomma marginatum ticks are an important vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus which can result in a severe and potentially fatal disease in humans. Given the continued emergence of clinical cases in Eurasia and focalised upsurges of . H. marginatum populations in Europe, it seemed prudent to assess the potential of this vector species to be introduced into the United Kingdom. Immature forms of . H. marginatum are frequent ectoparasites of passerine birds many of which migrate from Africa to the UK each spring. Incoming birds were inspected for ticks during the spring migration in 2010 and 2011. A total of 68 ticks was collected from 971 birds (29 bird species), 21% (14) of the ticks were identified as . H. marginatum. . Oenanthe oenanthe (Northern wheatear) and . Sylvia communis (Whitethroat) were found to be infested by this tick in both years and with multiple ticks. Single specimens were also removed from . Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (Sedge warbler) and . Phoenicurus phoenicurus (Common redstart) in 2010. This study provides the first contemporary evidence for substantial importation of this tick species into the UK.",

keywords = "Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, Hyalomma marginatum, Migratory birds, Tick",

author = "Jameson, {Lisa J.} and Morgan, {Peter J.} and Medlock, {Jolyon M.} and George Watola and Vaux, {Alexander G.C.}",

note = "Funding Information: This research would not have been possible without the assistance of Martin Cade and the many visiting ringers at Portland Bird Observatory. The authors would also like to credit and thank Martin Cade for the photographs included in this publication, Steve Leach (HPA) for his constructive comments on this manuscript, and Christopher Logue (HPA) for testing the ticks. Verification of identification of Hy. marginatum immatures was kindly provided by Professor Ali Bouattour, Head of the Unit of Medical Entomology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia. This work was funded by HPA Strategic R&D Fund (UKVECTOR), National Institute for Health Research . The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the HPA, FERA, NHS, NIHR, or the Department of Health. ",

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AU - Watola, George

AU - Vaux, Alexander G.C.

N1 - Funding Information: This research would not have been possible without the assistance of Martin Cade and the many visiting ringers at Portland Bird Observatory. The authors would also like to credit and thank Martin Cade for the photographs included in this publication, Steve Leach (HPA) for his constructive comments on this manuscript, and Christopher Logue (HPA) for testing the ticks. Verification of identification of Hy. marginatum immatures was kindly provided by Professor Ali Bouattour, Head of the Unit of Medical Entomology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia. This work was funded by HPA Strategic R&D Fund (UKVECTOR), National Institute for Health Research . The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the HPA, FERA, NHS, NIHR, or the Department of Health.

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N2 - Hyalomma marginatum ticks are an important vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus which can result in a severe and potentially fatal disease in humans. Given the continued emergence of clinical cases in Eurasia and focalised upsurges of . H. marginatum populations in Europe, it seemed prudent to assess the potential of this vector species to be introduced into the United Kingdom. Immature forms of . H. marginatum are frequent ectoparasites of passerine birds many of which migrate from Africa to the UK each spring. Incoming birds were inspected for ticks during the spring migration in 2010 and 2011. A total of 68 ticks was collected from 971 birds (29 bird species), 21% (14) of the ticks were identified as . H. marginatum. . Oenanthe oenanthe (Northern wheatear) and . Sylvia communis (Whitethroat) were found to be infested by this tick in both years and with multiple ticks. Single specimens were also removed from . Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (Sedge warbler) and . Phoenicurus phoenicurus (Common redstart) in 2010. This study provides the first contemporary evidence for substantial importation of this tick species into the UK.

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ER -

Importation of Hyalomma marginatum, vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, into the United Kingdom by migratory birds

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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