Blackbirds and song thrushes constitute a key reservoir of Borrelia garinii, the causative agent of Borreliosis in Central Europe

Blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) were found to carry 95% of all spirochete infected tick larvae among 40 bird species captured in Central Europe. More than 90% of the infections were typed as Borrelia garinii and Borrelia valaisiana. We conclude that thrushes are key players in the maintenance of these spirochete species in this region of Central Europe.