Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in migratory birds

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens can be transported over large distances and across geographical barriers by avian hosts. During the spring migrations of 2009 and 2010, blood samples were collected from 282 passerine birds (30 in 2009, 252 in 2010) at a migration stop-over observatory in Johnson Bayou, Louisiana. Every bird was identified by species and examined for ticks. Ticks found attached to the birds’ bodies were removed, identified by species, and stored in individual vials in 70% ethanol. Blood collected from the birds were immediately stored in lysis buffer. Bacterial genomic DNA was extracted from the ticks and blood samples using a Qiagen DNA extraction kit. We performed nested polymerase chain reaction using VLPT-gene primers to amplify Ehrlichia chaffeensis, an emerging tick-borne pathogen that causes a febrile illness in humans. The results of PCR assay using gene-specific primers for E. chaffeensis and other prevalent tick-borne pathogens will be presented in this talk.