Socolovschi C. auteur aut IRD Reynaud Pierre auteur aut IRD Kernif T. auteur aut IRD Raoult D. auteur aut IRD Parola P. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods that have a limited mobility, but can be transported over large geographical distances. by wild and domestic mammals and birds. In this study, we analyze the presence of emerging zoonotic bacteria in ticks collected from passerine birds and mammals present in the Camargue, in the south of France, which is a major rallying point for birds migrating from Eurasia and Africa. The presence of Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia, Borrelia, and Bartonella was examined by real-time PCR on DNA samples extracted from 118 ticks. Rickettsia massiliae was detected in ticks from Passer domesticus, Ri aeschlimannii in ticks from Acrocephalus scirpaceus and Luscinia megarhynchos, and Borrelia valaisiana in one tick from Turdus merula. In addition, Ri. massiliae, Ri. slovaca, Candidatus Ri. barbariae, and C burnedi were detected in ticks from dogs, horses, cats, and humans. No Bartonella DNA was detected in these samples. The migratory birds may play a role in the transmission of infectious diseases and contribute to the geographic distribution of Ri. aeschlimannii, Bo. valaisiana, and C. burnetii. The role of birds in spreading Rh. sanguineus ticks infected with Ri. massiliae needs to be clarified by complementary studies. This is the first detection of Candidatus Ri. barbariae in Rh. sanguineus from the south of France. specialized Ticks Passerine birds Rickettsia Borrelia Camargue FRANCE 080 052 3 5-6 354-359 2012 1877-959X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010058959 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.10.019 1877-959X [F B010058959] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010058959 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2013/02/010058959.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2013-03-06 2025-06-13 fdi:010058959 fre