Investigating bird-tick interactions in Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania

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Ashley C. Kennedy and Lauren P. Maestas, Mosquito Control, Delaware Fish and Wildlife, Newark, DE

Background/Question/Methods
Delaware and Pennsylvania consistently rank among the top states in the country for Lyme disease incidence rates. In recognition of this problem and other emerging tick-associated illnesses, active and passive tick surveillance efforts in the region have increased in recent years. Here we report known tick associations for passerines and wild turkeys based on collections from mist-netted passerines at multiple sites in Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, hunter-harvested wild turkeys (Meleagris gallapavo) in Delaware, and other incidental sources (e.g., window strike victims) within Delaware, collected between 2019-2021.
Results/Conclusions
Over the three years of this study, blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) were the most commonly collected species from both migratory and non-migratory passerines. Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) were the only species collected from wild turkeys. Wildlife hosts such as birds play a role in tick dispersal, raising the possibility of tick and tick-borne pathogen introductions and invasions into new areas and highlighting the need for continued surveillance.