Systematic & Applied Acarology ISSN 1362-1971 An international journal of the Systematic and Applied Acarology Society, published since 1996 [Aims] [Editors] [Content] [Subscriptions] [Contact details] [Society Homepage]

Systematic & Applied Acarology (2010) 15, 31–35.

The role of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris L.) in the dissemination of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Germany

TREVOR N. PETNEY*, JASMIN SKUBALLA, MIRIAM PFÄFFLE, HORST TARASCHEWSKI

Zoological Institute I, Department of Ecology and Parasitology, Kornblumenstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany 
*Corresponding author: E-mail: trevor.petney@kit.edu

Abstract

A number of bird species are known to be involved in the transmission cycles of at least two Borrelia species in Europe. Recent evidence suggests that the European blackbird (Turdus merula) and song thrush (T. philomelos) are the dominant hosts in these cycles. Examination of a suburban garden used as a winter roosting site for the European starling, Sturnus vulgaris, revealed an extremely high density of Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adults of up to ca. 50 ticks/m2, suggesting that this common, flocking avian species could also be of major epidemiological significance. Sampling of microhabitats showed that the ticks had not accumulated under the bamboo roosting site but had moved predominantly to open grassy areas. Both adults and nymphs were found to be infected with Borrelia valaisiana and/or Borrelia garinii.

Key words: European starling, Sturnus vulgaris, Ixodes ricinus, urban garden, Germany, Borrelia valaisiana, Borrelia garinii

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Accepted by R. G. Robbins 17 Jan. 2010; published 31 Mar. 2010