There is a knowledge gap in the study of Argasidae soft ticks and the pathogens they can transmit. These hematophagous arthropods are widely distributed and are often considered typical bird ectoparasites. Tick-parasitized birds can act not only as a reservoir of pathogens but also can carry these pathogen-infected arthropods to new areas. Seven griffon vulture nestlings were sampled in northeastern Spain, collecting ticks (n = 28) from two individuals and blood from each vulture (n = 7). Blood samples from griffon vultures tested PCR positive for Flavivirus (7/7), Anaplasma (6/7), piroplasms (4/7), and Rickettsia (1/7). A total of 27 of the 28 analyzed ticks were positive for Rickettsia, 9/28 for Anaplasma, 2/28 for piroplasms, and 5/28 for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFv). Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of Rickettsia spp., Babesia ardeae, and zoonotic Anaplasma phagocytophilum in vultures and Rickettsia spp., B. ardeae, and CCHFv genotype V in ticks.

对蜱科软蜱及其传播的病原体的研究存在知识空白。这些食血节肢动物分布广泛，通常被认为是典型的鸟类体外寄生虫。蜱寄生的鸟类不仅可以充当病原体的储存库，还可以将这些病原体感染的节肢动物带到新的地区。在西班牙东北部对 7 只狮鹫雏鸟进行了采样， 从两个个体身上收集了蜱虫 ( n = 28)，并从每只秃鹫身上采集了血液 ( n  = 7)。秃鹫的血液样本经 PCR 检测呈黄病毒(7/7)、无形体(6/7)、梨形体 (4/7) 和立克次体(1/7) 阳性。在分析的 28 只蜱中，共有 27 只蜱呈立克次体阳性，9/28 呈无形体阳性，2/28 呈梨形体阳性，5/28 呈克里米亚-刚果出血热病毒 (CCHFv) 阳性。测序和系统发育分析证实秃鹫中存在立克次体、阿迪巴贝斯虫和人畜共患的无形体吞噬细胞，蜱中存在立克次体、阿迪巴贝斯虫和 CCHFv 基因型 V。