Dispersal of Hyalomma rufipes by migratory birds in northeastern Spain: Implications for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever surveillance
Carrera Faja, Laura (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Bru, David (Université de Montpellier)
Giupponi, Carla (Université de Montpellier)
Huber, Karine
Durà, Carles (Institut Català d'Ornitologia. Estació Biològica del Montseny)
Castany, Joan (Grup Au d’Ornitologia)
Ferrís Malonda, Vicente (Grup Au d’Ornitologia)
Carmona Serrano, José (Grup Au d’Ornitologia)
Fernández Aguilar, Xavier (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal)
Espunyes, Johan (Govern d'Andorra. Ministeri de Medi Ambient, Agricultura i Ramaderia)
Vial, Laurence (Université de Montpellier)
Cabezón Ponsoda, Óscar (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)

Fecha:	2026
Resumen:	Migratory birds play a crucial role in the long-distance dispersal of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, contributing to the introduction of tick species and pathogens into new areas. Among those ticks, Hyalomma rufipes is a key concern due to its role as a vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and its potential to establish in southern Europe. We assessed tick infestation, CCHFV presence, and both the probability of H. rufipes infestation and its genetic diversity in migratory birds captured at four key stopovers in northeastern Spain Mediterranean (NESM) ecological region during spring migration from 2022 to 2024. A total of 14,472 birds representing 84 species were examined, of which 0. 5% carried ticks, primarily H. rufipes (77% of ticks), while all ticks tested negative for CCHFV. Statistical analyses revealed that ground- and shrub-foraging species, as well as birds wintering in open habitats and wetlands, had significantly higher probabilities of H. rufipes infestation. Genetic analyses of 88H. rufipes sequences showed high haplotype diversity with no clear population structure, indicating that ticks were acquired from multiple geographic origins, predominantly Central-West Africa. Some birds carried genetically distinct ticks simultaneously, which could facilitate pathogen transmission between ticks from different origins through co-feeding. Notably, some pre-Saharan migratory birds carried H. rufipes, suggesting potential local acquisition in North Africa, where the species has been previously reported although its establishment remains debated. These findings highlight the ongoing risk of introduction and possible establishment of H. rufipes in the NESM, with important implications for future surveillance of vector populations and tick-borne pathogens, including CCHFV, in Europe.
Ayudas:	Generalitat de Catalunya FI_B 00723 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2024-158857OB-C21
Derechos:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Lengua:	Anglès
Documento:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Materia:	Tick -borne pathogens ; Mediterranean ecological region ; Passeriformes ; Population genetics ; CCHFV
Publicado en:	One Health, 2026, art. 101475, ISSN 2352-7714

DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2026.101475

37 p, 1.8 MB

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Documentos de investigación > Documentos de los grupos de investigación de la UAB > Centros y grupos de investigación (producción científica) > Ciencias de la salud y biociencias > Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA-IRTA)
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