Migratory birds can transport infected ticks across continents. We evaluated pathogens in ticks collected from migratory birds in Italy. We found DNA from Rickettsia aeschlimannii, R. africae, and R. raoultii bacteria, all of which can cause disease in humans. Bird migrations might facilitate the spread of these pathogens into new areas.
Keywords: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever; Italy; Rickettsia; bacteria; birds; migratory birds; ticks; vector-borne infections; viruses; zoonoses.