Oldrich Sychra

Differential role of passerine birds in distribution of Borrelia spirochetes, based on data from ticks collected from birds during the postbreeding migration period in Central Europe.

ABSTRACT Borrelia spirochetes in bird-feeding ticks were studied in the Czech Republic. During the postbreeding period (July to September 2005), 1,080 passerine birds infested by 2,240 Ixodes ricinus subadult ticks were examined. Borrelia garinii was detected in 22.2% of the ticks, Borrelia valaisiana was detected in 12.8% of the ticks, Borrelia afzelii was detected in 1.6% of the ticks, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was detected in 0.3% of the ticks. After analysis of infections in which the blood meal volume and the stage of the ticks were considered, we concluded that Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula), song thrushes (Turdus philomelos), and great tits (Parus major) are capable of transmitting B. garinii; that juvenile blackbirds and song thrushes are prominent reservoirs for B. garinii spirochetes; that some other passerine birds investigated play minor roles in transmitting B. garinii; and that the presence B. afzelii in ticks results from infection in a former stage. Thus, while B. garinii transmission is associated with only a few passerine bird species, these birds have the potential to distribute millions of Lyme disease spirochetes between urban areas.

Synanthropic Birds Influence the Distribution of Borrelia Species: Analysis of Ixodes ricinus Ticks Feeding on Passerine Birds

ABSTRACT Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from 835 birds and from vegetation in the Czech Republic were analyzed. Host-seeking ticks (n = 427) were infected predominantly by Borrelia afzelii (25%). Ticks (n = 1,012) from songbirds (Passeriformes) were infected commonly by Borrelia garinii (12.1%) and Borrelia valaisiana (13.4%). Juveniles of synanthropic birds, Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (Turdus philomelos), were major reservoir hosts of B. garinii.

Winter infestation of wild birds by ticks and chiggers (Acari: Ixodidae, Trombiculidae) in the Czech Republic.

In winter months during 2003–2006, wild birds were captured and examined for ticks and chiggers at two sites near Brno, Czech Republic. In total, 1,362 birds, mostly passerines, were examined. The tick Ixodes arboricola Schulze et Schlottke, 1929 was found on 47 (3%) birds of six species. Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus, 1758 was found on 11 (1%) birds of five species. Larvae of chiggers Ascoschoengastia latyshevi (Schluger 1955) were found on 13 (1%) birds of six species. I. arboricola and A. latyshevi associated with hole-nesting birds can appear on birds rather frequently even during winter months. I. ricinus occurs on birds in winter sporadically.

Ticks of the Hyalomma marginatum complex transported by migratory birds into Central Europe.

Hyalomma ticks are well-known vectors transmitting infectious agents, which can result in severe and potentially fatal diseases in humans. Migratory birds may carry infected ticks over long distances. Here, we report on records of ticks of the H. marginatum complex in birds from Central Europe during the spring migration in 2008-2012. A total of 1172 birds belonging to 32 species, 16 families, and 3 orders was examined for ticks. Sixteen individuals of 6 passerine species were found to transport 30 ticks, identified as individuals belonging to the H. marginatum species complex (consisting of H. isaaci, H. marginatum sensu stricto, H. rufipes, H. turanicum, and H. glabrum) during 5 spring seasons. Infested bird species included the great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus, the Eurasian reed warbler A. scirpaceus, the marsh warbler A. palustris, the sedge warbler A. schoenobaenus, Savis warbler Locustella luscinioides, and the common nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos. All of these Central European breeders are migratory species wintering in Africa. To our knowledge, this is the first study to record ticks of the H. marginatum complex on the great reed warbler and Savis warbler.

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) from wild birds in southern Vietnam, with descriptions of two new species.

A total of 239 individuals of 50 bird species were examined for chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) in southern Vietnam. Fifty-six birds of 20 species were parasitised by 15 species of lice belonging to 10 genera from two suborders, Amblycera: Menacanthus, Meromenopon, Myrsidea, and Ischnocera: Alcedoecus, Brueelia, Cuculicola, Meropoecus, Penenirmus, Philopteroides and Philopterus. Thirteen louse samples from Passeriformes were identified to genus only because they contain inadequate material. A total of 29 host-louse associations were found, of which nine are new, including: (1) two new species of the genus Brueelia, which are described and named in this paper: Brueelia binhchauensis from Megalaima lineata (Vieillot, 1816) (Piciformes: Megalaimidae), and Brueelia malacocincla from Malacocincla abbotti Blyth, 1845 (Passeriformes: Pellorneidae); (2) first records of lice from Cyornis hainanus (Ogilvie-Grant, 1900); and (3) the first record of Myrsidea claytoni Hellenthal & Price, 2003 from Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos (Gmelin, 1788) (Passeriformes: Eurylaimidae), here regarded as a case of natural host-switching. A portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene for some species of chewing lice was sequenced in order to assess their genetic divergences.

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) from wild passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in northern Vietnam, with descriptions of three new species

Thirteen species of chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) were found on 46 wild passerines of 10 species in Cuc Phuong National Park in northern Vietnam. Three new species of the genera Myrsidea and Brueelia are described; they and their type hosts are: Myrsidea annae ex Schoeniparus rufogularis (Mandelli, 1873), Brueelia hrabali ex Macronous gularis (Horsfield, 1822) and Brueelia neodaumae ex Zoothera dauma (Latham, 1790). First records of chewing lice from Serilophus lunatus (Gould, 1834), Stachyris nigriceps Blyth, 1844, Niltava davidi La Touche, 1907 and Alcippe morrisonia Swinhoe, 1863, and a new host record for Menacanthus nogoma Uchida, 1926 are also included.

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) on manakins (Passeriformes: Pipridae) from Costa Rica, with description of a new species of the genus Tyranniphilopterus (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae)

One hundred and seventy individuals of five species of manakins (Passeriformes: Pipridae) were examined for chewing lice (Phthiraptera) in Costa Rica. Six species of chewing lice were identified. Chewing lice or their eggs were found on 26% individuals (28 positive/109 examined) of Long-tailed Manakins (Chiroxiphia linearis), the most numerous manakin species examined. There were significant differences in prevalences and intensities of infestation between males and females. No lice were found on females (n = 28) compared to 35% (24 positive/69 examined) prevalence in males. In older males, the higher prevalence and mean intensity of infestation was found. Description and illustrations are given for a new species of the genus Tyranniphilopterus Mey, 2004 from Long-tailed Manakin—Tyranniphilopterus toledo Sychra, sp. n. Both sexes of Tyranniphilopterus bruneri (Carriker, 1903) are redescribed. New host records are Long-tailed Manakin and White-collared Manakin (Manacus candei) for Ricinus invadens; White-ruffed Manakin (Corapipo altera) for Ricinus pessimalis; Long-tailed Manakin for Myrsidea andyolsoni. These are the first louse records from Long-tailed Manakin.

New records and a new species of chewing lice (Phthiraptera, Amblycera, Ischnocera) found on Columbidae (Columbiformes) in Pakistan

Abstract The chewing lice (Phthiraptera) of Columbidae (Columbiformes) from Pakistan are studied. Six species of chewing lice with new host records are recorded and one new species of the genus Colpocephalum is described from Columba livia in the Karachi region. All the columbid chewing lice from Pakistan are keyed out and the new species is illustrated and compared with the closest allied species.

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from ovenbirds, leaftossers and woodcreepers (Passeriformes : Furnariidae : Furnariinae, Sclerurinae, Dendrocolaptinae) from Costa Rica, with descriptions of four new species of the genera Rallicola and Myrsidea

Abstract. Descriptions and illustrations are given for one new species of Rallicola Johnston and Harrison, 1911 and three new species of Myrsidea Waterston, 1915 from ovenbirds, leaftossers, and woodcreepers from Costa Rica. These chewing lice and their type hosts are as follows: Rallicola (Rallicola) ochrolaemi and Myrsidea ochrolaemi ex Automolus ochrolaemus (Furnariidae: Furnariinae), Myrsidea calvi ex Sclerurus guatemalensis (Furnariidae: Scleruridae), and (Myrsidea souleyetii ex Lepidocolaptes souleyetii (Furnariidae: Dendrocolaptinae). Records of five other louse species of the genus Myrsidea, Menacanthus and Rallicola from dendrocolaptid hosts are also discussed. These are the first records of the genus Menacanthus and Myrsidea from members of the passerine subfamily Dendrocolaptinae.

Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in South Africa, with descriptions of three new species

A total of 144 individuals of 46 bird species belonging to the 20 families were examined for chewing lice in South Africa. Considering only the genus Myrsidea, a total of 19 birds of 8 species were parasitised with 8 species of Myrsidea. Descriptions and illustrations are given for three new species of Myrsidea. The new species and their type hosts are: Myrsidea aynazae ex Phyllastrephus flavostriatus (Sharpe) (Pycnonotidae), Myrsidea eslamii ex Zoothera gurneyi (Hartlaub) (Turdidae) and Myrsidea mariquensis ex Bradornis mariquensis Smith (Muscicapidae). Records of new host-louse associations are: Phyllastrephus terrestris Swainson (Pycnonotidae) for Myrsidea sp., Ploceus intermedius Ruppell (Ploceidae) for Myrsidea sp., and Turdus libonyanus (Smith) (Turdidae) for Myrsidea sp.