A new study identifies bird species that may be spreading Lyme disease and infection

Birds play an unknown role in the spread of tickborne disease due to their ability to travel long distances and their tendency to share time in different parts of the world – moving patterns due to climate change. Knowing which bird species can become infected with pathogens can help scientists predict where tickborne diseases may occur and pose a health risk to humans.

New study published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography using machine learning to identify bird species that have the potential to transmit Lyme disease bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi) to feeding bricks. The team developed a model that identified birds known to spread Lyme disease with 80% accuracy and revealed 21 new species that should be prioritized for study.

Lead author Daniel Becker, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Indiana University, says, “We know that trout can be caught by the Lyme bacterium; however, so far no one has systematically studied the drivers. ecological and evolutionary habitats affecting the most likely bird species to host and disperse Borrelia burgdorferi on a global scale.We will try to fill this gap by identifying indications of bird species that are more likely to give Lyme to feeding bricks. “

Lead author Barbara Han, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, says, “To predict and monitor species that may be spreading tickborne diseases to humans, we need first we know what symptoms make good pathogen animals.Here, we used a learning tool to assess the symptoms of bird species, along with Lyme disease data from ticks found on birds, to pre- describe bird species that have the potential to spread Lyme. “

In this study, the team reviewed published literature to find studies reporting Lyme disease of trout found in birds. The global study yielded 102 studies, including data from ticks detected on 183 bird species; of these, 91 were trout-positive for Borrelia burgdorferi. These bird species are considered ‘viable’ reservoir species as they are known to affect feeding bricks with Borrelia burgdorferi. There is a wide range of species identified, reaching across America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Next, machine learning was used to compare traces of possible bird species with 4691 other bird species. Data included information on life history characteristics such as diet combination, hunting location, body size, longevity, reproductive rate, and new age, as well as geographic information such as migration speed, global distribution, and elevation. highest. They also looked at baseline corticosterone – the stress hormone in birds – which affects infectious vulnerability.

The model identified birds known for spreading Lyme to brood with 80% accuracy, and revealed 21 new species that should be prioritized for study based on trait sharing with known potential species. High-risk species tend to have low baseline corticosterone, breeding and wintering at high levels and low elevations, are widely distributed, and will be available at both continuous life spans (early breeding species). and die young, or breed late and live longer).

Species from the genus Turdus, often referred to as true thrush, have been found to be much more similar in ability compared to other taxa. This finding suggests that thrushes may be the most endangered bird species for Lyme transmission. Passerines, or periwinkles, usually had a higher capacity, as did seed-eating birds and ground-eating birds – a behavior that would put them in question tickets.

Identifying Lyme-capable bird species could have a direct impact on our health. Ticborne diseases, especially Lyme disease, can be difficult to diagnose. Knowing where bruises occur and the diseases they spread helps medical doctors prepare for diagnosis and treatment, improving health outcomes for patients.

Due to climate change, the breeding grounds of many birds are migrating north. As birds spread into higher latitudes, so do faeces and pathogens. Some bird species have taken up full-time or part-time residence in cities and suburbs. Birds that may thrive in improved environments, especially those that overwinter in these new areas close to humans, increase the risk of residents becoming infected with tic.

Becker says, “Birds don’t spread Lyme directly to humans, but they can carry infectious bugs to new places with no history of Lyme. A bird ‘s tick could drop off and into a garden or a garden, where a person may become biting and infectious If local medical doctors are unaware of Lyme symptoms, proper diagnosis may be delayed.Identifying the spread of tartan can medical response to Lyme and other ticks. “

Han concludes, “These findings remind us that pathogen potential varies greatly, even among animals of the same family. Machine learning techniques allow us to study animal symptoms and help us predict global endangered species – not only for Lyme, but for others Tickborne and zoonotic diseases that are including several host species. These predictions could provide vital information to guide early interventions, prevent the outbreak of disease, and protect our health. “

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Inspectors:

Daniel Becker – Department of Biology, Indiana University; Center for Infectious Disease Ecology, University of Georgia

Barbara Han – Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies

BirdLife International provided bird circulation data. Funding to support authors was provided by the National Science Foundation Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program (DEB-1717282 and DEB-1619072) and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an inter-agency agreement between the Department of Energy USA and the Office of the Director of National Information.

DOI: https: //doi.org /10.1101 /2020.04.15.040352

The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is an independent nonprofit center for environmental studies. Since 1983, our scientists have been studying the complex interactions that govern the natural world and the effects of climate change on these systems. Our decisions lead to more effective regulatory and policy actions and greater environmental literacy. Employees are global experts in ecology: cities, disease, forests and freshwater.