Mites and soft ticks collected directly from
wild and domestic birds and their nests were tested for the presence of West
Nile virus (WNV). The cattle egret argas, Argas arboreus, was collected from the
nests of seven cattle egret colonies. Out of 1,000 A. arboreus pools examined,
16 were positive for WNV based on RT-PCR technique. The positive pools were from
four nesting colonies of birds. Out of 37 cattle egret squabs examined, 37.8%
had serum-neutralizing antibodies to WNV. WNV RNA was also detected in one out
of 15 pools of Rh. turanicus, in one out of 21 pools of Ornythonissus sylviarum,
and in one out of 18 pools of Dermanyssus gallinae, while 63 pools of Argas
reflexus, 11 of Rh. sanguineus, and 30 of Hyalomma spec. were negative
(Mumcuoglu et al. 2005).
References:
Mumcuoglu K.Y., C. Banet-Noach, M. Malkinson, U.
Shalom & R.Galun. 2005. Argasid ticks as possible vectors of West Nile virus
in Israel. Vector Borne Zoonot. Dis. 5: 65-71.
Additional publications on this subject:
Friedemann, G., Izhaki, I., Leshem, L. &
K.Y. Mumcuoglu. 2013. Alternative nest-building behavior of the Long-legged
Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) and the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) in the
Judean Foothills, and the parasitic and non-parasitic arthropod fauna in their
nests. Isr. J. Entomol. 43: 11-19.
Leker, R.R., I. Felsenstein, D. Raveh, S. Klaus
and K.Y. Mumcuoglu. 1992. Ornithodorus tholozani bites: A unique clinical
picture. J. Amer. Acad. Dermatol. 27:1025 1026.
Rufli, T. & K.Y. Mumcuoglu. 1981.
Dermatological Entomology. 18./19. Ixodidae/Hard ticks and Argasidae/Soft ticks
(in German). Schweiz. Rundschau Med. 70:362-385.
