Abstract 
A survey of migratory birds, their ectoparasites and the viruses 
they carry, was conducted in the eastern Mediterranean from 1966 to 1971. 
The primary operation site has been in northern Egypt, with one year of 
operation in Cyprus and two years (bird banding and tick collection only) 
in Israel. Nearly 100,000 birds have been handled; the records from eighty 
per cent have been computerized and are under study. More than 4400 in¬ 
dividual ticks were collected including two new species. Between 1966 
and 1968, 3890 individual and pooled blood samples were collected from 
6152 birds. 54 mouse pathogenic agents representing 7 groups have been 
isolated from them demonstrating that migrating birds can transport live 
virus between continents. At least four strains are new. One, Bahig 
in the Tete Group, has been characterized; the others, including Matruh 
in the same group, are under continuing study. Blood samples from later 
seasons are frozen awaiting study but passages of 14 mouse pathogens from 
646 erythrocyte specimens collected in fall, 1969 are frozen for definitive 
characterization. No viruses were isolated from ticks during the study. 
Serological tests revealed prior infection of migratory and resident birds 
with a number of viruses. 
IV 
