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Prudhomme J, Depaquit J, Fite J, Quillery E, Bouhsira E, Liénard E. Systematic review of hematophagous arthropods present in cattle in France. Parasite 2023; 30:56. [PMID: 38084937 PMCID: PMC10714678 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The arrival of pathogens, whether zoonotic or not, can have a lasting effect on commercial livestock farms, with dramatic health, social and economic consequences. However, available data concerning the arthropod vectors present and circulating on livestock farms in France are still very imprecise, fragmentary, and scattered. In this context, we conducted a systematic review of the hematophagous arthropod species recorded on different types of cattle farms in mainland France (including Corsica). The used vector "groups" studied were biting flies, biting midges, black flies, fleas, horse flies, lice, louse flies, mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks. A large number of documents were selected (N = 9,225), read (N = 1,047) and analyzed (N = 290), allowing us to provide distribution and abundance maps of different species of medical and veterinary interest according to literature data. Despite the large number of documents collected and analyzed, there are few data provided on cattle farm characteristics. Moreover, data on all arthropod groups lack numerical detail and are based on limited data in time and/or space. Therefore, they are not generalizable nor comparable. There is still little information on many vectors (and their pathogens) and still many unknowns for most studied groups. It appears necessary to provide new, updated and standardized data, collected in different geographical and climatological areas. Finally, this work highlights the lack of entomologists, funding, training and government support, leading to an increased risk of uncontrolled disease emergence in cattle herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorian Prudhomme
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InTheres, University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT 31300 Toulouse France
| | - Jérôme Depaquit
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Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Faculté de Pharmacie, EA7510 EpidémioSurveillance et Circulation de Parasites dans les Environnements, and ANSES, USC Pathogènes-Environnement-Toxoplasme-Arthropodes-Réservoirs-bioDiversité Reims France
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Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie 51092 Reims France
| | - Johanna Fite
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French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Risk Assessment Department Maisons-Alfort Cedex France
| | - Elsa Quillery
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French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Risk Assessment Department Maisons-Alfort Cedex France
| | - Emilie Bouhsira
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InTheres, University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT 31300 Toulouse France
| | - Emmanuel Liénard
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InTheres, University of Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT 31300 Toulouse France
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2
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Kampen H, Werner D. Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as Vectors of Viruses. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2706. [PMID: 38004718 PMCID: PMC10673010 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides occur almost globally and can regionally and seasonally reach high abundances. Most species are hematophagous, feeding on all groups of vertebrates, including humans. In addition to being nuisance pests, they are able to transmit disease agents, with some viruses causing high morbidity and/or mortality in ruminants, horses and humans. Despite their impact on animal husbandry, public health and tourism, knowledge on the biology and ecology of culicoid biting midges and their interactions with ingested pathogens or symbiotic microorganisms is limited. Research is challenging due to unknown larval habitats, the insects' tiny size, the inability to establish and breed most species in the laboratory and the laborious maintenance of colonies of the few species that can be reared in the laboratory. Consequently, the natural transmission of pathogens has experimentally been demonstrated for few species while, for others, only indirect evidence of vector potential exists. Most experimental data are available for Culicoides sonorensis and C. nubeculosus, the only species kept in western-world insectaries. This contribution gives an overview on important biting midge vectors, transmitted viruses, culicoid-borne viral diseases and their epidemiologies and summarizes the little knowledge on interactions between biting midges, their microflora and culicoid-borne arboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Doreen Werner
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, 15374 Muencheberg, Germany;
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3
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Daif S, El Berbri I, Lhor Y, Fassi Fihri O. Serological and molecular prevalence study of bluetongue virus in small domestic ruminants in Morocco. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19448. [PMID: 36376352 PMCID: PMC9663439 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24067-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bluetongue is an arthropod-borne viral disease transmitted by Culicoides biting midges, affecting domestic and wild ruminants. The current study aims to assess the seroprevalence of the bluetongue virus (BTV) and confirm its active circulation among sheep and goats populations in Morocco, as well as study the risk factors associated with BTV infection. To this end, a total of 1651 samples were randomly collected from 1376 sheep and 275 goats in eight (out of 12) regions of the country between March 2018 and July 2021.These samples were primarily tested using competitive ELISA (c-ELISA). Subsequently, 65% of c-ELISA positives (n = 452) were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The results revealed an overall BTV seroprevalence in small ruminants in Morocco of 41.7%, including 42.6% in sheep and 37.5% in goats. The RT-qPCR results showed that the overall BTV viropositivity rate was 46.7%, including 48.1% in sheep and 41.8% in goats. These viro-serological rates varied significantly by age, sex, and breed of the tested animals, husbandry method, season, and geographic origin. This indicates that these parameters constitute risk factors for BTV transmission routes in Morocco. The findings also indicate that goats play a role as reservoirs in maintaining the BTV in Morocco. It appears from this study that bluetongue is endemic in Morocco. The environmental and climate conditions as well as the husbandry methods adopted in the country are particularly favorable for the virus transmission throughout the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soukaina Daif
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat-Instituts, BP: 6202, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Ikhlass El Berbri
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat-Instituts, BP: 6202, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Youssef Lhor
- grid.31143.340000 0001 2168 4024National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA), Rabat-Instituts, BP: 6202, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Ouafaa Fassi Fihri
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat-Instituts, BP: 6202, Rabat, Morocco
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4
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Douglass AP, O’Grady L, McGrath G, Tratalos J, Mee JF, Barrett D, Sánchez-Miguel C, More SJ, Madouasse A, Green M, Madden JM, McAloon CG. Development of a syndromic surveillance system for Irish dairy cattle using milk recording data. Prev Vet Med 2022; 204:105667. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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5
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Ramilo DW, Filipe AM, Lucientes J, Rebelo MT, Cardoso L, da Fonseca IP. Morphological anomalies found in female Culicoides midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00822-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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6
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Aguilar-Vega C, Rivera B, Lucientes J, Gutiérrez-Boada I, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. A study of the composition of the Obsoletus complex and genetic diversity of Culicoides obsoletus populations in Spain. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:351. [PMID: 34217330 PMCID: PMC8254917 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04841-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Culicoides obsoletus species complex (henceforth ‘Obsoletus complex’) is implicated in the transmission of several arboviruses that can cause severe disease in livestock, such as bluetongue, African horse sickness, epizootic hemorrhagic disease and Schmallenberg disease. Thus, this study aimed to increase our knowledge of the composition and genetic diversity of the Obsoletus complex by partial sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) gene in poorly studied areas of Spain. Methods A study of C. obsoletus populations was carried out using a single-tube multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that was designed to differentiate the Obsoletus complex sibling species Culicoides obsoletus and Culicoides scoticus, based on the partial amplification of the cox1 gene, as well as cox1 georeferenced sequences from Spain available at GenBank. We sampled 117 insects of the Obsoletus complex from six locations and used a total of 238 sequences of C. obsoletus (ss) individuals (sampled here, and from GenBank) from 14 sites in mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands for genetic diversity and phylogenetic analyses. Results We identified 90 C. obsoletus (ss), 19 Culicoides scoticus and five Culicoides montanus midges from the six collection sites sampled, and found that the genetic diversity of C. obsoletus (ss) were higher in mainland Spain than in the Canary Islands. The multiplex PCR had limitations in terms of specificity, and no cryptic species within the Obsoletus complex were identified. Conclusions Within the Obsoletus complex, C. obsoletus (ss) was the predominant species in the analyzed sites of mainland Spain. Information about the species composition of the Obsoletus complex could be of relevance for future epidemiological studies when specific aspects of the vector competence and capacity of each species have been identified. Our results indicate that the intraspecific divergence is higher in C. obsoletus (ss) northern populations, and demonstrate the isolation of C. obsoletus (ss) populations of the Canary Islands. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04841-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Aguilar-Vega
- Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Belén Rivera
- Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology (Animal Health), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, AgriFood Institute of Aragón IA2, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Isabel Gutiérrez-Boada
- Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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7
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Roch FF, Conrady B. Overview of Mitigation Programs for Non-EU-Regulated Cattle Diseases in Austria. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:689244. [PMID: 34212024 PMCID: PMC8239179 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.689244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The non-mandatory regulation of animal diseases at the European Union (EU) level enables member states to implement mitigation programs based on their own country-specific conditions such as priority settings of the governments, availability of financial resources, and epidemiological situation. This can result in a heterogeneous distribution of mitigation activities and prevalence levels within and/or between countries, which can cause difficulties for intracommunity trade. This article aims to describe the past, current, and future mitigation activities and associated prevalence levels for four animal diseases, i.e., enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), and bluetongue disease (BT) for Austria. Over a period of 40 years (1978–2020), regulations concerning EBL, IBR/IPV, BVD, and BT were retraced to analyze the changes of legislation, focusing on sampling, testing, and mitigation activities in Austria, and were linked to the collected diagnostic testing results. The study results clearly demonstrate the adoption of the legislation by the Austrian governments in dependency of the epidemiological situations. Furthermore, our study shows that, related to the forthcoming Animal Health Law on April 21, 2021, Austria has a good initial situation to achieve disease-free status and/or free from infection status based on the current available epidemiological situation and previously implemented mitigation activities. The study results presented here are intended to contribute to a better comparison of the eradication status across European countries for cattle diseases by providing information about the mitigation activities and data of testing results over a period of 40 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz-Ferdinand Roch
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Beate Conrady
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.,Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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8
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Barceló C, Purse BV, Estrada R, Lucientes J, Miranda MÁ, Searle KR. Environmental Drivers of Adult Seasonality and Abundance of Biting Midges Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Bluetongue Vector Species in Spain. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:350-364. [PMID: 32885822 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting wild and domestic ruminants transmitted by several species of biting midges Culicoides Latreille. The phenology of these insects were analyzed in relation to potential environmental drivers. Data from 329 sites in Spain were analyzed using Bayesian Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) approaches. The effects of environmental factors on adult female seasonality were contrasted. Obsoletus complex species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were the most prevalent across sites, followed by Culicoides newsteadi Austen (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Activity of female Obsoletus complex species was longest in sites at low elevation, with warmer spring average temperatures and precipitation, as well as in sites with high abundance of cattle. The length of the Culicoides imicola Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) female adult season was also longest in sites at low elevation with higher coverage of broad-leaved vegetation. Long adult seasons of C. newsteadi were found in sites with warmer autumns and higher precipitation, high abundance of sheep. Culicoides pulicaris (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) had longer adult periods in sites with a greater number of accumulated degree days over 10°C during winter. These results demonstrate the eco-climatic and seasonal differences among these four taxa in Spain, which may contribute to determining sites with suitable environmental circumstances for each particular species to inform assessments of the risk of Bluetongue virus outbreaks in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Barceló
- Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Research Group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Bethan V Purse
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa Estrada
- Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Miguel Á Miranda
- Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Research Group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Kate R Searle
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Edinburgh, Scotland
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Aguilar-Vega C, Bosch J, Fernández-Carrión E, Lucientes J, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Identifying Spanish Areas at More Risk of Monthly BTV Transmission with a Basic Reproduction Number Approach. Viruses 2020; 12:E1158. [PMID: 33066209 PMCID: PMC7602074 DOI: 10.3390/v12101158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Bluetongue virus (BTV) causes a disease that is endemic in Spain and its two major biological vector species, C. imicola and the Obsoletus complex species, differ greatly in their ecology and distribution. Understanding the seasonality of BTV transmission in risk areas is key to improving surveillance and control programs, as well as to better understand the pathogen transmission networks between wildlife and livestock. Here, monthly risk transmission maps were generated using risk categories based on well-known BTV R0 equations and predicted abundances of the two most relevant vectors in Spain. Previously, Culicoides spp. predicted abundances in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands were obtained using remote sensing data and random forest machine learning algorithm. Risk transmission maps were externally assessed with the estimated date of infection of BTV-1 and BTV-4 historical outbreaks. Our results highlight the differences in risk transmission during April-October, June-August being the period with higher R0 values. Likewise, a natural barrier has been identified between northern and central-southern areas at risk that may hamper BTV spread between them. Our results can be relevant to implement risk-based interventions for the prevention, control and surveillance of BTV and other diseases shared between livestock and wildlife host populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Aguilar-Vega
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.B.); (E.F.-C.); (J.M.S.-V.)
| | - Jaime Bosch
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.B.); (E.F.-C.); (J.M.S.-V.)
| | - Eduardo Fernández-Carrión
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.B.); (E.F.-C.); (J.M.S.-V.)
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology (Animal Health), AgriFood Institute of Aragón IA2, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain;
| | - José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.B.); (E.F.-C.); (J.M.S.-V.)
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10
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Werner D, Groschupp S, Bauer C, Kampen H. Breeding Habitat Preferences of Major Culicoides Species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17145000. [PMID: 32664561 PMCID: PMC7400431 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17145000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopognidae) are demonstrably or putatively involved in the transmission of both bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg viruses (SBV) in Central Europe. Although these insects are ubiquitous in Europe, relatively little is known about their requirements in terms of breeding habitats and substrates. Culicoides species composition and relative abundance in potential breeding habitats were therefore studied at various locations in Northeastern Germany and one location in Western Germany by emergence trap collections. Forty-three potential breeding sites were analyzed in ten landscape structures, with 28,091 adult biting midges emerging from them. Among these, 2116 specimens belonged to the genus Culicoides. Species of the culicoid subgenus Avaritia were most abundant (70.6% of all specimens) and widespread (91.6% of all sites), while the subgenus Culicoides accounted for 15.6% of the specimens registered but emerged from 70.8% of all sites sampled. Culicoides species of other subgenera were collected in 75.0% of all studied sites, with a relative abundance of 8.7%. The results indicate that various types of dung, but probably also some landscape habitats, offer suitable substrates for the development of potential Culicoides vector species. Adaptations in dung management on farms and landscape design and use might therefore be appropriate approaches to reduce the risk of BTV or SBV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doreen Werner
- Research Area 2 “Land Use and Governance”, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), 15374 Müncheberg, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-33432-82-363
| | - Sarah Groschupp
- Research Area 2 “Land Use and Governance”, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), 15374 Müncheberg, Germany;
| | - Christian Bauer
- Working Group “Epidemiology”, Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Helge Kampen
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald, Germany;
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Aguilar-Vega C, Fernández-Carrión E, Lucientes J, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. A model for the assessment of bluetongue virus serotype 1 persistence in Spain. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232534. [PMID: 32353863 PMCID: PMC7192634 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an arbovirus of ruminants that has been circulating in Europe continuously for more than two decades and has become endemic in some countries such as Spain. Spain is ideal for BTV epidemiological studies since BTV outbreaks from different sources and serotypes have occurred continuously there since 2000; BTV-1 has been reported there from 2007 to 2017. Here we develop a model for BTV-1 endemic scenario to estimate the risk of an area becoming endemic, as well as to identify the most influential factors for BTV-1 persistence. We created abundance maps at 1-km2 spatial resolution for the main vectors in Spain, Culicoides imicola and Obsoletus and Pulicaris complexes, by combining environmental satellite data with occurrence models and a random forest machine learning algorithm. The endemic model included vector abundance and host-related variables (farm density). The three most relevant variables in the endemic model were the abundance of C. imicola and Obsoletus complex and density of goat farms (AUC 0.86); this model suggests that BTV-1 is more likely to become endemic in central and southwestern regions of Spain. It only requires host- and vector-related variables to identify areas at greater risk of becoming endemic for bluetongue. Our results highlight the importance of suitable Culicoides spp. prediction maps for bluetongue epidemiological studies and decision-making about control and eradication measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Aguilar-Vega
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Fernández-Carrión
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology (Animal Health), AgriFood Institute of Aragón IA2, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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12
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Cuéllar AC, Kjær LJ, Baum A, Stockmarr A, Skovgard H, Nielsen SA, Andersson MG, Lindström A, Chirico J, Lühken R, Steinke S, Kiel E, Gethmann J, Conraths FJ, Larska M, Smreczak M, Orłowska A, Hamnes I, Sviland S, Hopp P, Brugger K, Rubel F, Balenghien T, Garros C, Rakotoarivony I, Allène X, Lhoir J, Chavernac D, Delécolle JC, Mathieu B, Delécolle D, Setier-Rio ML, Scheid B, Chueca MÁM, Barceló C, Lucientes J, Estrada R, Mathis A, Venail R, Tack W, Bødker R. Modelling the monthly abundance of Culicoides biting midges in nine European countries using Random Forests machine learning. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:194. [PMID: 32295627 PMCID: PMC7161244 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04053-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culicoides biting midges transmit viruses resulting in disease in ruminants and equids such as bluetongue, Schmallenberg disease and African horse sickness. In the past decades, these diseases have led to important economic losses for farmers in Europe. Vector abundance is a key factor in determining the risk of vector-borne disease spread and it is, therefore, important to predict the abundance of Culicoides species involved in the transmission of these pathogens. The objectives of this study were to model and map the monthly abundances of Culicoides in Europe. METHODS We obtained entomological data from 904 farms in nine European countries (Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway) from 2007 to 2013. Using environmental and climatic predictors from satellite imagery and the machine learning technique Random Forests, we predicted the monthly average abundance at a 1 km2 resolution. We used independent test sets for validation and to assess model performance. RESULTS The predictive power of the resulting models varied according to month and the Culicoides species/ensembles predicted. Model performance was lower for winter months. Performance was higher for the Obsoletus ensemble, followed by the Pulicaris ensemble, while the model for Culicoides imicola showed a poor performance. Distribution and abundance patterns corresponded well with the known distributions in Europe. The Random Forests model approach was able to distinguish differences in abundance between countries but was not able to predict vector abundance at individual farm level. CONCLUSIONS The models and maps presented here represent an initial attempt to capture large scale geographical and temporal variations in Culicoides abundance. The models are a first step towards producing abundance inputs for R0 modelling of Culicoides-borne infections at a continental scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Cuéllar
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lene Jung Kjær
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas Baum
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anders Stockmarr
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Henrik Skovgard
- Department of Agroecology - Entomology and Plant Pathology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren Achim Nielsen
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jan Chirico
- National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Renke Lühken
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Steinke
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ellen Kiel
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Gethmann
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Magdalena Larska
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | - Marcin Smreczak
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | - Anna Orłowska
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | | | | | - Petter Hopp
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | - Katharina Brugger
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz Rubel
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Balenghien
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, 34398 Montpellier, France
- IAV Hassan II, Unité MIMC, 10 100 Rabat-Instituts, Morocco
| | - Claire Garros
- IAV Hassan II, Unité MIMC, 10 100 Rabat-Instituts, Morocco
| | | | - Xavier Allène
- IAV Hassan II, Unité MIMC, 10 100 Rabat-Instituts, Morocco
| | | | | | - Jean-Claude Delécolle
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, UR7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, UR7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Delphine Delécolle
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, UR7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | | | - Carlos Barceló
- Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Research Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosa Estrada
- Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alexander Mathis
- Institute of Parasitology, National Centre for Vector Entomology, Vetsuisse FacultyInstitute of Parasitology, National Centre for Vector Entomology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Rene Bødker
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
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Koltsov A, Tsybanov S, Gogin A, Kolbasov D, Koltsova G. Identification and Characterization of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 14 in Russia. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:26. [PMID: 32181261 PMCID: PMC7059698 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper reports a case of bluetongue virus (BTV) infection in the Smolensk and Kaluga regions of Russia in 2011-2012. The virus was initially detected in heifers transferred in Russia from Germany through Poland and Belarus in 2011. On day 27 of quarantine, RNA and infectious viruses of BTV were detected in four heifers, but five were serologically positive. However, on day 3 before shipment, all heifers were seronegative and PCR-negative for BTV. Thus, a few animals from this consignment were viremic without any evident subclinical infection. Based on Seg-2 (VP2 gene) and Seg-5 (NS1 gene) sequencing, the recovered virus had 99.86-100% nucleotide identity with BTV-14-like viruses such as the vaccine BTV-14 strain RSArrrr/BTV 14 and the BTV-14 isolates detected in Lithuania and Poland in 2012. Subsequently, BTV-14 was also reported in local animals in two regions of Russia. During the monitoring survey, 1623 local animals within a 300-km radius were tested, of which 471 tested positive by ELISA and 183 by PCR for BTV-14 RNA. No other serotypes were identified in either imported or aboriginal animals within that radius. The Culicoides midges trapped at the site of the outbreak in May 2012 tested positive for the BTV-14 genome, indicating that the possible mechanism of spread most likely occurs via vector bites. However, further investigation is required to confirm this hypothesis, which would provide an improved understanding of the circulation and overwintering of BTV in northern latitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Koltsov
- Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology, Pokrov, Russia
| | - Sodnom Tsybanov
- Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology, Pokrov, Russia
| | - Andrey Gogin
- Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology, Pokrov, Russia
| | - Denis Kolbasov
- Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology, Pokrov, Russia
| | - Galina Koltsova
- Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology, Pokrov, Russia
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Barceló C, Estrada R, Lucientes J, Miranda MA. A Mondrian matrix of seasonal patterns of Culicoides nulliparous and parous females at different latitudes in Spain. Res Vet Sci 2020; 129:154-163. [PMID: 32000016 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Insects from genus Culicoides (Diptera; Ceratopogonidae) transmit arboviruses such as Bluetongue virus (BTV); affecting wild and domestic ruminants. These insects are age graded for monitoring purposes in surveillance programs. Parous females (PF) are the only fraction of the entire population that could effectively transmit viruses in a subsequent blood meal. Data of the Spanish Entomosurveillance National Program from 2008 to 2010 were used to analyse the seasonal pattern of the nulliparous females (NF) and PF of the vector species Obsoletus complex, C. imicola, C. newsteadi and C. pulicaris. Latitude variation on the seasonal abundance patterns of PF was also analysed in trap sites spanning a North-South axis in mainland Spain. The weekly abundance of PF was always highest in summer. The peak of abundance mainly occurred between April and July except for C. imicola that was from September to November. The analysis of the latitudinal seasonal variation of PF in Spain showed that Northern provinces have absence of C. imicola while the Obsoletus species were more present in Northern areas. There were periods of the year were no individuals of any vector species were collected, which should be considered in order to calculate the Seasonally Vector-Free Period (SVFP). Culicoides newsteadi and C. pulicaris exhibited the highest population in Toledo, probably related to their inland preferences. These findings would be of interest for a better understanding of the periods of low and high risk of transmission of BTV in Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Barceló
- Applied zoology and animal conservation research group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
| | - Rosa Estrada
- Department of Animal Pathology, AgriFood Institute of Aragón (IA2), Veterinary Faculty, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology, AgriFood Institute of Aragón (IA2), Veterinary Faculty, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Miguel A Miranda
- Applied zoology and animal conservation research group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Ctra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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15
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Rudenko NV, Karatovskaya AP, Shepelyakovskaya AO, Zamyatina AV, Brovko FA, Koltsov AY, Imatdinov IR, Imatdinov AR, Strijakova OM, Mima KA, Lyska VM, Kolbasov DV. Monoclonal Antibodies to the Recombinant Protein VP7 of Bluetongue Virus. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162019060347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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16
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Riddin MA, Venter GJ, Labuschagne K, Villet MH. Culicoides species as potential vectors of African horse sickness virus in the southern regions of South Africa. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 33:498-511. [PMID: 31172556 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
African horse sickness (AHS), a disease of equids caused by the AHS virus, is of major concern in South Africa. With mortality reaching up to 95% in susceptible horses and the apparent reoccurrence of cases in regions deemed non-endemic, most particularly the Eastern Cape, epidemiological research into factors contributing to the increase in the range of this economically important virus became imperative. The vectors, Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), are considered unable to proliferate during the unfavourable climatic conditions experienced in winter in the province, although the annual occurrence of AHS suggests that the virus has become established and that vector activity continues throughout the year. Surveillance of Culicoides within the province is sparse and little was known of the diversity of vector species or the abundance of known vectors, Culicoides imicola and Culicoides bolitinos. Surveillance was performed using light trapping methods at selected sites with varying equid species over two winter and two outbreak seasons, aiming to determine diversity, abundance and vector epidemiology of Culicoides within the province. The research provided an updated checklist of Culicoides species within the Eastern Cape, contributing to an increase in the knowledge of AHS vector epidemiology, as well as prevention and control in southern Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Riddin
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - G J Venter
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - K Labuschagne
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - M H Villet
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
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17
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Vasić A, Zdravković N, Aniță D, Bojkovski J, Marinov M, Mathis A, Niculaua M, Oșlobanu EL, Pavlović I, Petrić D, Pflüger V, Pudar D, Savuţa G, Simeunović P, Veronesi E, Silaghi C. Species diversity, host preference and arbovirus detection of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in south-eastern Serbia. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:61. [PMID: 30683145 PMCID: PMC6347842 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3292-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is a genus of small biting midges (also known as "no-see ums") that currently includes 1368 described species. They are proven or suspected vectors for important pathogens affecting animals such as bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV). Currently little information is available on the species of Culicoides present in Serbia. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine species diversity, host preference and the presence of BTV and SBV RNA in Culicoides from the Stara Planina Nature Park in south-eastern Serbia. RESULTS In total 19,887 individual Culicoides were collected during three nights of trapping at two farm sites and pooled into six groups (Obsoletus group, Pulicaris group, "Others" group and further each group according to the blood-feeding status to freshly engorged and non-engorged). Species identification was done on subsamples of 592 individual Culicoides specimens by morphological and molecular methods (MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and PCR/sequencing). At least 22 Culicoides species were detected. Four animal species (cow, sheep, goat and common blackbird) as well as humans were identified as hosts of Culicoides biting midges. The screening of 8291 Culicoides specimens in 99 pools for the presence of BTV and SBV RNA by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR were negative. CONCLUSIONS The biodiversity of Culicoides species in the natural reserve Stara Planina was high with at least 22 species present. The presence of C. imicola Kieffer was not recorded in this area. Culicoides showed opportunistic feeding behaviour as determined by host preference. The absence of SBV and BTV viral RNA correlates with the absence of clinical disease in the field during the time of sampling. These data are the direct outcome of a training programme within the Institutional Partnership Project "AMSAR: Arbovirus monitoring, research and surveillance-capacity building on mosquitoes and biting midges" funded by the programme SCOPES of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Vasić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.,Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Nemanja Zdravković
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.,Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragoș Aniță
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania
| | - Jovan Bojkovski
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mihai Marinov
- Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development, Tulcea, Romania
| | - Alexander Mathis
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Ivan Pavlović
- Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dušan Petrić
- Faculty for Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Dubravka Pudar
- Faculty for Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Predrag Simeunović
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Eva Veronesi
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Insel Riems, Germany. .,National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. .,Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald, Germany.
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18
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Turner J, Jones AE, Heath AE, Wardeh M, Caminade C, Kluiters G, Bowers RG, Morse AP, Baylis M. The effect of temperature, farm density and foot-and-mouth disease restrictions on the 2007 UK bluetongue outbreak. Sci Rep 2019; 9:112. [PMID: 30643158 PMCID: PMC6331605 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35941-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2006, bluetongue (BT), a disease of ruminants, was introduced into northern Europe for the first time and more than two thousand farms across five countries were affected. In 2007, BT affected more than 35,000 farms in France and Germany alone. By contrast, the UK outbreak beginning in 2007 was relatively small, with only 135 farms in southeast England affected. We use a model to investigate the effects of three factors on the scale of BT outbreaks in the UK: (1) place of introduction; (2) temperature; and (3) animal movement restrictions. Our results suggest that the UK outbreak could have been much larger had the infection been introduced into the west of England either directly or as a result of the movement of infected animals from southeast England before the first case was detected. The fact that air temperatures in the UK in 2007 were marginally lower than average probably contributed to the UK outbreak being relatively small. Finally, our results indicate that BT movement restrictions are effective at controlling the spread of infection. However, foot-and-mouth disease restrictions in place before the detection and control of BT in 2007 almost certainly helped to limit BT spread prior to its detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Turner
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK.
| | - A E Jones
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GL, UK
| | - A E Heath
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZT, UK
| | - M Wardeh
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GL, UK
| | - C Caminade
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GL, UK
- NIHR, Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
| | - G Kluiters
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - R G Bowers
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZL, UK
| | - A P Morse
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZT, UK
- NIHR, Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
| | - M Baylis
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK.
- NIHR, Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK.
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19
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Cuéllar AC, Jung Kjær L, Baum A, Stockmarr A, Skovgard H, Nielsen SA, Andersson MG, Lindström A, Chirico J, Lühken R, Steinke S, Kiel E, Gethmann J, Conraths FJ, Larska M, Smreczak M, Orłowska A, Hamnes I, Sviland S, Hopp P, Brugger K, Rubel F, Balenghien T, Garros C, Rakotoarivony I, Allène X, Lhoir J, Chavernac D, Delécolle JC, Mathieu B, Delécolle D, Setier-Rio ML, Venail R, Scheid B, Chueca MÁM, Barceló C, Lucientes J, Estrada R, Mathis A, Tack W, Bødker R. Monthly variation in the probability of presence of adult Culicoides populations in nine European countries and the implications for targeted surveillance. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:608. [PMID: 30497537 PMCID: PMC6267925 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3182-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are small hematophagous insects responsible for the transmission of bluetongue virus, Schmallenberg virus and African horse sickness virus to wild and domestic ruminants and equids. Outbreaks of these viruses have caused economic damage within the European Union. The spatio-temporal distribution of biting midges is a key factor in identifying areas with the potential for disease spread. The aim of this study was to identify and map areas of neglectable adult activity for each month in an average year. Average monthly risk maps can be used as a tool when allocating resources for surveillance and control programs within Europe. METHODS We modelled the occurrence of C. imicola and the Obsoletus and Pulicaris ensembles using existing entomological surveillance data from Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Poland. The monthly probability of each vector species and ensembles being present in Europe based on climatic and environmental input variables was estimated with the machine learning technique Random Forest. Subsequently, the monthly probability was classified into three classes: Absence, Presence and Uncertain status. These three classes are useful for mapping areas of no risk, areas of high-risk targeted for animal movement restrictions, and areas with an uncertain status that need active entomological surveillance to determine whether or not vectors are present. RESULTS The distribution of Culicoides species ensembles were in agreement with their previously reported distribution in Europe. The Random Forest models were very accurate in predicting the probability of presence for C. imicola (mean AUC = 0.95), less accurate for the Obsoletus ensemble (mean AUC = 0.84), while the lowest accuracy was found for the Pulicaris ensemble (mean AUC = 0.71). The most important environmental variables in the models were related to temperature and precipitation for all three groups. CONCLUSIONS The duration periods with low or null adult activity can be derived from the associated monthly distribution maps, and it was also possible to identify and map areas with uncertain predictions. In the absence of ongoing vector surveillance, these maps can be used by veterinary authorities to classify areas as likely vector-free or as likely risk areas from southern Spain to northern Sweden with acceptable precision. The maps can also focus costly entomological surveillance to seasons and areas where the predictions and vector-free status remain uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Cuéllar
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lene Jung Kjær
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas Baum
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anders Stockmarr
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Henrik Skovgard
- Department of Agroecology - Entomology and Plant Pathology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren Achim Nielsen
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jan Chirico
- National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Renke Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research National Reference Centre for Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Steinke
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ellen Kiel
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Gethmann
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Magdalena Larska
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | - Marcin Smreczak
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | - Anna Orłowska
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | | | | | - Petter Hopp
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Franz Rubel
- Institute for Veterinary Public Health, Vetmeduni, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jean-Claude Delécolle
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, EA7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, EA7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Delphine Delécolle
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, EA7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Roger Venail
- EID Méditerranée, Montpellier, France
- Avia-GIS NV, Zoersel, Belgium
| | | | | | - Carlos Barceló
- Laboratory of Zoology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosa Estrada
- Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alexander Mathis
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - René Bødker
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
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20
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Martinelle L, Dal Pozzo F, Thys C, De Leeuw I, Van Campe W, De Clercq K, Thiry E, Saegerman C. Assessment of cross-protection induced by a bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 8 vaccine towards other BTV serotypes in experimental conditions. Vet Res 2018; 49:63. [PMID: 30012223 PMCID: PMC6048908 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-018-0556-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bluetongue disease is caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) and BTV serotype 8 (BTV8) caused great economic damage in Europe during the last decade. From 1998 to 2007, in addition to BTV8, Europe had to face the emergence of BTV1, 2, 4, 9, and 16, spreading in countries where the virus has never been detected before. These unprecedented outbreaks trigger the need to evaluate and compare the clinical, virological and serological features of the European BTV serotypes in the local epidemiological context. In this study groups of calves were infected with one of the following European BTV serotypes, namely BTV1, 2, 4, 9 and 16. For each tested serotype, two groups of three male Holstein calves were used: one group vaccinated against BTV8, the other non-vaccinated. Clinical signs were quantified, viral RNA was detected in blood and organs and serological relationship was assessed. Calves were euthanized 35 days post-infection and necropsied. Most of the infected animals showed mild clinical signs. A partial serological cross reactivity has been reported between BTV8 and BTV4, and between BTV1 and BTV8. BTV2 and BTV4 viral RNA only reached low levels in blood, when compared to other serotypes, whereas in vitro growth assays could not highlight significant differences. Altogether the results of this study support the hypothesis of higher adaptation of some BTV strains to specific hosts, in this case calves. Furthermore, cross-protection resulting from a prior vaccination with BTV8 was highlighted based on cross-neutralization. However, the development of neutralizing antibodies is probably not totally explaining the mild protection induced by the heterologous vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Martinelle
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Fabiana Dal Pozzo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Christine Thys
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Etienne Thiry
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Veterinary Virology and Animal Viral Diseases, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Claude Saegerman
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
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21
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Oluwayelu D, Adebiyi A, Tomori O. Endemic and emerging arboviral diseases of livestock in Nigeria: a review. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:337. [PMID: 29880024 PMCID: PMC5992842 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2911-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are the largest biologic group of vertebrate viruses and constitute important emerging infectious disease agents globally. Arthropod transmission provides a way for viruses to cross species barriers since the same arthropod may bite animals that rarely or never come into close contact in nature. In Nigeria, arboviruses have, over several decades, caused severe diseases in livestock resulting in great economic losses and, sometimes, infection of humans leading to morbidity and mortality. In the present review, a computerized search of existing literature was conducted using the Google search engine and PubMed electronic database to identify and review relevant publications on arboviral diseases of livestock in Nigeria. The keywords used were 'arbovirus', 'arthropod-borne viral diseases' or 'livestock diseases' and 'Nigeria' while the Boolean operator 'OR' was used to combine and narrow the searches. Additional information was obtained by searching the veterinary libraries for journals not listed in the database. The available publications were thereafter reviewed and findings qualitatively described. Our findings revealed that although there were several studies on arboviruses and the livestock diseases they cause in Nigeria, most of such reports were made four to six decades ago, with only a few reported recently. Consequently, the true economic and public health impact of these diseases are likely to be underestimated, mainly due to under-reporting or lack of awareness of them. Thus, it is essential to update information on arboviral diseases in Nigeria in order to increase awareness of the diseases and facilitate their prompt identification and reporting. The importance of routine surveillance for arbovirus livestock diseases and sentinel herd monitoring as basis for development of an early warning and alert system to prevent future outbreaks is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Oluwayelu
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria
- Centre for Control and Prevention of Zoonoses, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria
| | - Adebowale Adebiyi
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria
| | - Oyewale Tomori
- Nigerian Academy of Science, Academy House, University of Lagos Campus, 8A Ransome Kuti Road, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos State Nigeria
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Jess S, Thompson GM, Clawson S, Forsythe IWN, Rea I, Gordon AW, Murchie AK. Surveillance of biting midges (Culicoides spp.) in Northern Ireland: influence of seasonality, surrounding habitat and livestock housing. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 32:48-60. [PMID: 28842922 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Biting midges, Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), are important vectors of viral pathogens. Following the outbreak of bluetongue serotype 8 in Europe between 2006 and 2009, many Culicoides surveillance programmes were initiated to identify vector-active periods, in accordance with European Commission regulation 2007/1266/EC. This study utilized surveillance data from 4 years of continuous light-trapping at 14 sites in Northern Ireland. The number of captured Culicoides varied from none during the vector-free period (December-April) to more than 36 000 per night during peak activity in the summer. The Obsoletus group represented 75% of Culicoides collected and the Pulicaris group represented 21%. A total of 91% of Culicoides were female, of which 42% were parous. Abundance data, sex ratios and parous rates suggested that both the Obsoletus and Pulicaris groups underwent three generations/year. The Obsoletus group was associated with cattle-rearing habitats and woodland, the Impunctatus group was found in habitats related to sheep rearing and the Pulicaris group were associated with both cattle and sheep. Housing did not reduce incursion of female Obsoletus group Culicoides but it did for males and for the Pulicaris group Culicoides. The influence of housing was strongly affected by time of year, probably reflecting the presence of livestock indoors/outdoors.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Jess
- Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - G M Thompson
- Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - S Clawson
- Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - I W N Forsythe
- Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - I Rea
- Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - A W Gordon
- Finance and Corporate Affairs Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - A K Murchie
- Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Cuéllar AC, Kjær LJ, Kirkeby C, Skovgard H, Nielsen SA, Stockmarr A, Andersson G, Lindstrom A, Chirico J, Lühken R, Steinke S, Kiel E, Gethmann J, Conraths FJ, Larska M, Hamnes I, Sviland S, Hopp P, Brugger K, Rubel F, Balenghien T, Garros C, Rakotoarivony I, Allène X, Lhoir J, Chavernac D, Delécolle JC, Mathieu B, Delécolle D, Setier-Rio ML, Venail R, Scheid B, Chueca MÁM, Barceló C, Lucientes J, Estrada R, Mathis A, Tack W, Bødker R. Spatial and temporal variation in the abundance of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in nine European countries. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:112. [PMID: 29482593 PMCID: PMC5828119 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2706-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV), African horse sickness virus and Schmallenberg virus (SBV). Outbreaks of both BTV and SBV have affected large parts of Europe. The spread of these diseases depends largely on vector distribution and abundance. The aim of this analysis was to identify and quantify major spatial patterns and temporal trends in the distribution and seasonal variation of observed Culicoides abundance in nine countries in Europe. METHODS We gathered existing Culicoides data from Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Poland. In total, 31,429 Culicoides trap collections were available from 904 ruminant farms across these countries between 2007 and 2013. RESULTS The Obsoletus ensemble was distributed widely in Europe and accounted for 83% of all 8,842,998 Culicoides specimens in the dataset, with the highest mean monthly abundance recorded in France, Germany and southern Norway. The Pulicaris ensemble accounted for only 12% of the specimens and had a relatively southerly and easterly spatial distribution compared to the Obsoletus ensemble. Culicoides imicola Kieffer was only found in Spain and the southernmost part of France. There was a clear spatial trend in the accumulated annual abundance from southern to northern Europe, with the Obsoletus ensemble steadily increasing from 4000 per year in southern Europe to 500,000 in Scandinavia. The Pulicaris ensemble showed a very different pattern, with an increase in the accumulated annual abundance from 1600 in Spain, peaking at 41,000 in northern Germany and then decreasing again toward northern latitudes. For the two species ensembles and C. imicola, the season began between January and April, with later start dates and increasingly shorter vector seasons at more northerly latitudes. CONCLUSION We present the first maps of seasonal Culicoides abundance in large parts of Europe covering a gradient from southern Spain to northern Scandinavia. The identified temporal trends and spatial patterns are useful for planning the allocation of resources for international prevention and surveillance programmes in the European Union.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Cuéllar
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Lene Jung Kjær
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carsten Kirkeby
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Skovgard
- Department of Agroecology - Entomology and Plant Pathology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren Achim Nielsen
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anders Stockmarr
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jan Chirico
- National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Renke Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research National Reference Centre for Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Steinke
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ellen Kiel
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Gethmann
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Franz J Conraths
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Magdalena Larska
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | | | | | - Petter Hopp
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Franz Rubel
- Institute for Veterinary Public Health, Vetmeduni, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jean-Claude Delécolle
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, EA7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, EA7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Delphine Delécolle
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, EA7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Roger Venail
- EID Méditerranée, Montpellier, France
- Avia-GIS NV, Zoersel, Belgium
| | | | | | - Carlos Barceló
- Laboratory of Zoology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosa Estrada
- Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alexander Mathis
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Rene Bødker
- Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark
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Liu Y, Tao H, Yu Y, Yue L, Xia W, Zheng W, Ma H, Liu X, Chen H. Molecular differentiation and species composition of genus Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in different habitats in southern China. Vet Parasitol 2018; 254:49-57. [PMID: 29657011 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.02.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Culicoides biting midges (Diptera:Ceratopogonidae) cause a significant biting nuisance to humans, livestock, which are the biological vectors of a range of risky pathogens. Accurate illustration of vector play a key role in arthropod borne diseases surveillance. However, few studies have focused on the Culicoides, which caused bluetongue disease in 29 provinces of China since 1979. In this study, we assessed cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) mtDNA molecular marker for identification of ten major vector species and analyzed the Culicoides species community and diversity in different habitats. A total of 20,795 Culicoides samples collected from 11 sample sites were identified as 23 species belonging to 7 subgenera. Sequences of COI gene worked well as barcodes for identifying all the determined specimen in this study and were comparable with the existing sequence data from GenBank. We first reported COI barcode sequences of C. morisitai, C. insignipennis and C. homotomus. Morphological identification of Culicoides spp. samples within southern China appears relatively robust and some unidentified species were required further study. Our study shows that the COI sequence data can be used as a tool to identify species of Culicoides in Jiangxi Province. In our sampled area, the most abundant species was C. arakawae (61.89%), followed by C. oxystoma (13.77%), C. punctatus (10.10%), C. nipponensis (8.82%), C. homotomus (3.19%) and C.morisitai (1.17%) in this study. C. punctatus was the dominant species of Park habitat (62.22%), C. arakawae was the predominant species of Chicken habitat (96.66%), Vegetable plot habitat (92.0%), and Peasant household habitat (83.21%), respectively. C. oxystoma was the abundant species of Residential area habitat (40.11%), Hospital habitat (56.65%), and Pig & Cow habitat (48.77%), respectively. Results also show that the potential Bluetongue virus vectors belong to the Obsoletus and Pulicaris groups, are also included and relatively abundant, notably: Culicoides punctatus. These findings expand the current knowledge of Culicoides population composition in the southern part of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangqing Liu
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, 330038, PR China.
| | - Huiying Tao
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, 330038, PR China.
| | - Yixin Yu
- Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, PR China.
| | - Liangliang Yue
- National Plateau Wetland Research Center, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224, PR China.
| | - Wen Xia
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, 330038, PR China.
| | - Weiqing Zheng
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, 330038, PR China.
| | - Hongmei Ma
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, 330038, PR China.
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, 330038, PR China.
| | - Haiying Chen
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, 330038, PR China.
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Geo-statistical analysis of Culicoides spp. distribution and abundance in Sicily, Italy. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:78. [PMID: 29391056 PMCID: PMC5796452 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2658-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Biting midges belonging to Culicoides imicola, Culicoides obsoletus complex and Culicoides pulicaris complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are increasingly implicated as vectors of bluetongue virus in Palaearctic regions. Culicoides obsoletus complex includes C. obsoletus (sensu stricto), C. scoticus, C. dewulfi and C. chiopterus. Culicoides pulicaris and C. lupicaris belong to the Culicoides pulicaris complex. The aim of this study was a geo-statistical analysis of the abundance and spatial distribution of Culicoides spp. involved in bluetongue virus transmission. As part of the national bluetongue surveillance plan 7081 catches were collected in 897 Sicilian farms from 2000 to 2013. Methods Onderstepoort-type blacklight traps were used for sample collection and each catch was analysed for the presence of Culicoides spp. and for the presence and abundance of Culicoides vector species (C. imicola, C. pulicaris / C. obsoletus complexes). A geo-statistical analysis was carried out monthly via the interpolation of measured values based on the Inverse Distance Weighted method, using a GIS tool. Raster maps were reclassified into seven classes according to the presence and abundance of Culicoides, in order to obtain suitable maps for Map Algebra operations. Results Sicilian provinces showing a very high abundance of Culicoides vector species were Messina (80% of the whole area), Palermo (20%) and Catania (12%). A total of 5654 farms fell within the very high risk area for bluetongue (21% of the 26,676 farms active in Sicily); of these, 3483 farms were in Messina, 1567 in Palermo and 604 in Catania. Culicoides imicola was prevalent in Palermo, C. pulicaris in Messina and C. obsoletus complex was very abundant over the whole island with the highest abundance value in Messina. Conclusions Our study reports the results of a geo-statistical analysis concerning the abundance and spatial distribution of Culicoides spp. in Sicily throughout the fourteen year study. It provides useful decision support in the field of epidemiology, allowing the identification of areas to be monitored as bases for improved surveillance plans. Moreover, this knowledge can become a tool for the evaluation of virus transmission risks, especially if related to vector competence.
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Maclachlan NJ, Osburn BI. Teratogenic bluetongue and related orbivirus infections in pregnant ruminant livestock: timing and pathogen genetics are critical. Curr Opin Virol 2017; 27:31-35. [PMID: 29107849 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Congenital infections of domestic animals with viruses in several families, including Bunyaviridae, Flaviridae, Parvoviridae, and Reoviridae, are the cause of naturally occurring teratogenic central nervous system and/or musculoskeletal defects (arthrogryposis) in domestic animals. Congenital infections of ruminant livestock with bluetongue virus (BTV) and some related members of the genus Orbivirus (family Reoviridae) have clearly shown the critical role of gestational age at infection in determining outcome. Specifically, fetuses infected prior to mid-gestation that survive congenital BTV infection are born with cavitating central nervous system defects that range from severe hydranencephaly to cerebral cysts (porencephaly). Generally, the younger the fetus (in terms of gestational age) at infection, the more severe the teratogenic lesion at birth. Age-dependent virus infection and destruction of neuronal and/or glial cell precursors that populate the developing central nervous system are responsible for these naturally occurring virus-induced congenital defects of animals, thus lesions are most severe when progenitor cells are infected prior to their normal migration during embryogenesis. Whereas congenital infection is characteristic of certain BTV strains, notably live-attenuated (modified-live) vaccine viruses that have been passaged in embryonating eggs, transplacental transmission is not characteristic of many field strains of the virus and much remains to be determined regarding the genetic determinants of transplacental transmission of individual virus strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- N James Maclachlan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Bennie I Osburn
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Development of a monoclonal sandwich ELISA for direct detection of bluetongue virus 8 in infected animals. J Virol Methods 2017; 243:172-176. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Abstract
The performance of different bluetongue control measures related to both vaccination and protection from bluetongue virus (BTV) vectors was assessed. By means of a mathematical model, it was concluded that when vaccination is applied on 95% of animals even for 3 years, bluetongue cannot be eradicated and is able to re‐emerge. Only after 5 years of vaccination, the infection may be close to the eradication levels. In the absence of vaccination, the disease can persist for several years, reaching an endemic condition with low level of prevalence of infection. Among the mechanisms for bluetongue persistence, the persistence in the wildlife, the transplacental transmission in the host, the duration of viraemia and the possible vertical transmission in vectors were assessed. The criteria of the current surveillance scheme in place in the EU for demonstration of the virus absence need revision, because it was highlighted that under the current surveillance policy bluetongue circulation might occur undetected. For the safe movement of animals, newborn ruminants from vaccinated mothers with neutralising antibodies can be considered protected against infection, although a protective titre threshold cannot be identified. The presence of colostral antibodies interferes with the vaccine immunisation in the newborn for more than 3 months after birth, whereas the minimum time after vaccination of animal to be considered immune can be up to 48 days. The knowledge about vectors ecology, mechanisms of over‐wintering and criteria for the seasonally vector‐free period was updated. Some Culicoides species are active throughout the year and an absolute vector‐free period may not exist at least in some areas in Europe. To date, there is no evidence that the use of insecticides and repellents reduce the transmission of BTV in the field, although this may reduce host/vector contact. By only using pour‐on insecticides, protection of animals is lower than the one provided by vector‐proof establishments. This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2017.EN-1182/full, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2017.EN-1171/full
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Fischer EAJ, Martínez López EP, De Vos CJ, Faverjon C. Quantitative analysis of the probability of introducing equine encephalosis virus (EEV) into The Netherlands. Prev Vet Med 2016; 131:48-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Steinke S, Lühken R, Balczun C, Kiel E. Emergence of Culicoides obsoletus group species from farm-associated habitats in Germany. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 30:174-184. [PMID: 26744290 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) may transmit several arboviruses to ruminant livestock. The species of the Obsoletus group are considered to be among the most important vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV) in northern Europe. As agricultural environments offer suitable habitats for the development of their immature stages, the emergence of adult Culicoides from potential breeding sites was investigated at 20 cattle farms throughout Germany in 2012 and 2013. In analyses of species-specific habitat preferences and relationships between Culicoides abundance in breeding substrates and their physicochemical characteristics, dungheaps emerged as the most important substrate for the development of Culicoides obsoletus sensu stricto (s.s.) (Meigen), whereas Culicoides chiopterus (Meigen) and Culicoides dewulfi Goetghebuer were generally restricted to cowpats. A decreasing pH value was associated with a higher abundance or a higher probability of observing these three species. Furthermore, the abundance of C. obsoletus s.s. was positively related to increasing moisture. Dungheaps were very productive breeding sites for this species and are therefore suggested as a target for potential control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Steinke
- Research Group for Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - R Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - C Balczun
- Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service, Koblenz, Germany
| | - E Kiel
- Research Group for Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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Helmer C, Eibach R, Humann‐Ziehank E, Tegtmeyer PC, Bürstel D, Mayer K, Moog U, Stauch S, Strobel H, Voigt K, Sieber P, Greiner M, Ganter M. Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus infection in sheep and goats flocks in Germany, 2012-2013. Vet Med Sci 2016; 2:10-22. [PMID: 29067177 PMCID: PMC5645825 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a member of the family Bunyaviridae and mainly affects ruminants. It is transmitted by biting midges, first and foremost Culicoides spp., and causes congenital malformations reflected in arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly (AH) syndrome. The aim of this study was to collect data on the emergence of SBV as a new arthropod-borne disease introduced into Europe in 2011. Germany was located in the core region of the 2011/2012 epidemic. Following two seroprevalence studies in the north-west of Germany in 2012, this study focused on the epidemiology and distribution of SBV throughout 130 small ruminant flocks in the whole country. Blood samples were obtained of 30 animals per flock and a SBV-specific questionnaire was used to collect operating data of the farms. The median within-herd seroprevalence for all 130 flocks tested was 53.3% with a total range from 0% to 100%. The median within-herd seroprevalence for goats was 30% [interquartile range (IQR): 40.3%] and 57% for sheep (IQR: 43.3%). Small ruminant flocks kept permanently indoors or housed overnight had a significantly lower seroprevalence than flocks kept permanently outdoors. In addition, this study revealed a significantly lower seroprevalence in the north-east of Germany. These results show that small ruminants in Germany are still at risk of contracting new SBV infections following incomplete seroconversion of flocks especially in the north-east of Germany. This might contribute to SBV becoming enzootic in central and northern Europe. Furthermore, the survey revealed that housing animals at least during mating and early pregnancy may reduce the risk of new SBV infections and may thus be an option to reduce losses as long as there is no licensed vaccine available on the German market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Helmer
- Clinic for Swine and Small RuminantsUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationBischofsholer Damm 15D‐30173HannoverGermany
| | - Regina Eibach
- Clinic for Swine and Small RuminantsUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationBischofsholer Damm 15D‐30173HannoverGermany
| | - Esther Humann‐Ziehank
- Clinic for Swine and Small RuminantsUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationBischofsholer Damm 15D‐30173HannoverGermany
| | - Philip C. Tegtmeyer
- Clinic for Swine and Small RuminantsUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationBischofsholer Damm 15D‐30173HannoverGermany
| | - Daniela Bürstel
- Tierseuchenkasse (Animal Diseases Fund) Baden‐WuerttembergSchaflandstr. 3D‐70736FellbachGermany
| | - Kathrin Mayer
- Small Ruminant Health ServiceSächsische Tierseuchenkasse (Animal Diseases Fund)Löwenstraße 7aD‐01099DresdenGermany
| | - Udo Moog
- Animal Health Service Thuringia e.V.Thüringer Tierseuchenkasse (Animal Diseases Fund)Victor‐Goerttler‐Str. 4D‐07745JenaGermany
| | - Sieglinde Stauch
- Schafpraxis (sheep veterinary practice) StoffenriedAm Hopfenberg 8D‐89352StoffenriedGermany
| | - Heinz Strobel
- Schafpraxis (sheep veterinary practice) StoffenriedAm Hopfenberg 8D‐89352StoffenriedGermany
| | - Katja Voigt
- Clinic for RuminantsLudwig Maximilians University (LMU) MunichSonnenstr.1685764OberschleißheimGermany
| | - Philipp Sieber
- Clinic for RuminantsLudwig Maximilians University (LMU) MunichSonnenstr.1685764OberschleißheimGermany
| | - Matthias Greiner
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)Max‐Dohrn‐Straße 8‐10D‐10589BerlinGermany
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationHannoverGermany
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small RuminantsUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationBischofsholer Damm 15D‐30173HannoverGermany
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Schulz C, Ziller M, Kampen H, Gauly M, Beer M, Grevelding CG, Hoffmann B, Bauer C, Werner D. Culicoides vector species on three South American camelid farms seropositive for bluetongue virus serotype 8 in Germany 2008/2009. Vet Parasitol 2015; 214:272-81. [PMID: 26489592 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Palearctic species of Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), in particular of the Obsoletus and Pulicaris complexes, were identified as putative vectors of bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) on ruminant farms during the epizootic in Germany from 2006 to 2009. BTV may cause severe morbidity and mortality in ruminants and sporadically in South American camelids (SAC). However, the fauna of Culicoides spp. on SAC farms has not been investigated. Therefore, the ceratopogonid fauna was monitored on three farms with BTV-seropositive SAC in Germany. Black-light traps were set up on pastures and in stables from summer 2008 to autumn 2009. Additionally, ceratopogonids were caught in emergence traps mounted on llama dung and dung-free pasture from spring to autumn 2009. After morphological identification, selected Culicoides samples were analysed for BTV-RNA by real-time RT-PCR. The effects of the variables 'location', 'temperature' and 'humidity' on the number of Culicoides caught in black-light traps were modelled using multivariable Poisson regression. In total, 26 species of Culicoides and six other genera of biting midges were identified. The most abundant Culicoides spp. collected both outdoors and indoors with black-light traps belonged to the Obsoletus (77.4%) and Pulicaris (16.0%) complexes. The number of Culicoides peaked in summer, while no biting midges were caught during the winter months. Daily collections of Culicoides were mainly influenced by the location and depended on the interaction of temperature and humidity. In the emergence traps, species of the Obsoletus complex predominated the collections. In summary, the absence of BTV-RNA in any of the analysed Culicoides midges and in the BTV-seropositive SAC on the three farms together with the differences in the pathogenesis of BTV-8 in SAC compared to ruminants suggests a negligible role of SAC in the spread of the virus. Although SAC farms may provide similar suitable habitats for putative Culicoides vectors than ruminant farms, the results suggest that geographic and meteorological factors had a stronger influence on Culicoides abundance than the animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Schulz
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; BFS, Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Mario Ziller
- Workgroup Biomathematics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Helge Kampen
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Department of Animal Science, Livestock Production Group, Georg August University Göttingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Christoph G Grevelding
- BFS, Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Christian Bauer
- BFS, Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Doreen Werner
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Eberswalder Str. 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany.
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DE Regge N, DE Deken R, Fassotte C, Losson B, Deblauwe I, Madder M, Vantieghem P, Tomme M, Smeets F, Cay AB. Culicoides monitoring in Belgium in 2011: analysis of spatiotemporal abundance, species diversity and Schmallenberg virus detection. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 29:263-275. [PMID: 25761054 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Revised: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In 2011, Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were collected at 16 locations covering four regions of Belgium with Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) traps and at two locations with Rothamsted suction traps (RSTs). Quantification of the collections and morphological identification showed important variations in abundance and species diversity between individual collection sites, even for sites located in the same region. However, consistently higher numbers of Culicoides midges were collected at some sites compared with others. When species abundance and diversity were analysed at regional level, between-site variation disappeared. Overall, species belonging to the subgenus Avaritia together with Culicoides pulicaris (subgenus Culicoides) were the most abundant, accounting for 80% and 96% of all midges collected with RSTs and OVI traps, respectively. Culicoides were present during most of the year, with Culicoides obsoletus complex midges found from 9 February until 27 December. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction screening for Schmallenberg virus in the heads of collected midges resulted in the first detection of the virus in August 2011 and identified C. obsoletus complex, Culicoides chiopterus and Culicoides dewulfi midges as putative vector species. At Libramont in the south of Belgium, no positive pools were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- N DE Regge
- Operational Direction Viral Diseases, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA-CERVA), Brussels, Belgium
| | - R DE Deken
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - C Fassotte
- Plant Protection and Ecotoxicology, Life Science Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre (CRA-W), Gembloux, Belgium
| | - B Losson
- Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - I Deblauwe
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M Madder
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - P Vantieghem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M Tomme
- Plant Protection and Ecotoxicology, Life Science Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre (CRA-W), Gembloux, Belgium
| | - F Smeets
- Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - A B Cay
- Operational Direction Viral Diseases, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA-CERVA), Brussels, Belgium
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Chatzopoulos D, Valiakos G, Giannakopoulos A, Birtsas P, Sokos C, Vasileiou N, Papaspyropoulos K, Tsokana C, Spyrou V, Fthenakis G, Billinis C. Bluetongue Virus in wild ruminants in Europe: Concerns and facts, with a brief reference to bluetongue in cervids in Greece during the 2014 outbreak. Small Rumin Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Slama D, Haouas N, Mezhoud H, Babba H, Chaker E. Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120528. [PMID: 25793285 PMCID: PMC4368833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To evaluate the host preferences of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Central Tunisia, we identified the source of blood meals of field collected specimens by sequencing of the cytochrome b (cyt b) mitochondrial locus and Prepronociceptine single copy nuclear gene. The study includes the most common and abundant livestock associated species of biting midges in Tunisia: C. imicola, C. jumineri, C. newsteadi, C. paolae, C. cataneii, C. circumscriptus, C. kingi, C. pseudojumineri, C. submaritimus, C. langeroni, C. jumineri var and some unidentified C. species. Analysis of cyt b PCR products from 182 field collected blood-engorged females’ midges revealed that 92% of them fed solely on mammalian species, 1.6% on birds, 2.4% on insects and 0.8% on reptiles. The blast results identified the blood origin of biting midges to the species level with exact or nearly exact matches (≥98%). The results confirm the presence of several Culicoides species, including proven vectors in Central Tunisia. Blood meal analyses show that these species will indeed feed on bigger mammals, thereby highlighting the risk that these viruses will be able to spread in Tunisia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darine Slama
- Department of Clinical Biology B, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology Medical and Molecular, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Najoua Haouas
- Department of Clinical Biology B, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology Medical and Molecular, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Habib Mezhoud
- Department of Clinical Biology B, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology Medical and Molecular, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Hamouda Babba
- Department of Clinical Biology B, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology Medical and Molecular, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia; Laboratory of the Maternity and Neonatology centre of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Emna Chaker
- Department of Clinical Biology B, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology Medical and Molecular, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
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Humblet MF, Vandeputte S, Mignot C, Bellet C, De Koeijer A, Swanenburg M, Afonso A, Sanaa M, Saegerman C. How to Assess Data Availability, Accessibility and Format for Risk Analysis? Transbound Emerg Dis 2015; 63:e173-e186. [PMID: 25655676 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Risk assessments are mostly carried out based on available data, which do not reflect all data theoretically required by experts to answer them. This study aimed at developing a methodology to assess data availability, accessibility and format, based on a scoring system and focusing on two diseases: Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE), still exotic to Europe, and alveolar echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis (EM), endemic in several Member States (MSs). After reviewing 36 opinions of the EFSA-AHAW Panel on risk assessment of animal health questions, a generic list of needed data was elaborated. The methodology consisted, first, in implementing a direct and an indirect survey to collect the data needed for both case studies: the direct survey consisted in a questionnaire sent to contact points of three European MSs (Belgium, France and the Netherlands), and the organization of a workshop gathering experts on both diseases. The indirect survey, focusing on the three MSs involved in the direct survey plus Spain, relied on web searches. Secondly, a scoring system with reference to data availability, accessibility and format was elaborated, to, finally, compare both diseases and data between MSs. The accessibility of data was generally related to their availability. Web searches resulted in more data available for VEE compared to EM, despite its current exotic status in the European Union. Hypertext markup language and portable document files were the main formats of available data. Data availability, accessibility and format should be improved for research scientists/assessors. The format of data plays a key role in the feasibility and rapidness of data management and analysis, through a prompt compilation, combination and aggregation in working databases. Harmonization of data collection process is encouraged, according to standardized procedures, to provide useful and reliable data, both at the national and the international levels for both animal and human health; it would allow assessing data gaps through comparative studies. The present methodology is a good way of assessing the relevance of data for risk assessment, as it allows integrating the uncertainty linked to the quality of data used. Such an approach could be described as transparent and traceable and should be performed systematically.
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Affiliation(s)
- M-F Humblet
- Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to veterinary sciences (UREAR-ULg), Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - S Vandeputte
- Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to veterinary sciences (UREAR-ULg), Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - C Mignot
- Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to veterinary sciences (UREAR-ULg), Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - C Bellet
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - A De Koeijer
- Central Veterinary Institute (CVI), Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - M Swanenburg
- Central Veterinary Institute (CVI), Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - A Afonso
- Animal Health and Welfare Unit (AHAW) Panel, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy
| | - M Sanaa
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - C Saegerman
- Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to veterinary sciences (UREAR-ULg), Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
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Comparison of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and molecular biology techniques for identification of Culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) biting midges in senegal. J Clin Microbiol 2014; 53:410-8. [PMID: 25411169 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01855-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are implicated as vectors for a wide variety of pathogens. The morphological identification of these arthropods may be difficult because of a lack of detailed investigation of taxonomy for this species in Africa. However, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) profiling is efficient for arthropod identification at the species level. This study established a spectrum database of Culicoides spp. from Senegal using MALDI-TOF. Identification of Culicoides insects to the species level before mass spectrometry was performed on the basis of morphological characters. MALDI-TOF MS reference spectra were determined for 437 field-caught Culicoides of 10 species. The protein profiles of all tested Culicoides revealed several peaks with mass ranges of 2 to 20 kDa. In a validation study, 72 Culicoides specimens in the target species were correctly identified at the species level with a similarity of 95 to 99.9%. Four Culicoides protein profiles were misidentified. Nevertheless, six SuperSpectra (C. imicola, C. enderleini, C. oxystoma, C. kingi, C. magnus, and C. fulvithorax) were created. Abdomens of midges were used to amplify and sequence a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI). The results obtained using the MALDI-TOF MS method were consistent with the morphological identification and similar to the genetic identification. Protein profiling using MALDI-TOF is an efficient approach for the identification of Culicoides spp., and it is economically advantageous for approaches that require detailed and quantitative information of vector species that are collected in field. The database of African Culicoides MS spectra created is the first database in Africa. The COI sequences of five Culicoides species that were previously noncharacterized using molecular methods were deposited in GenBank.
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Nielsen SA, Banta G, Rasmussen AM, Skovgård H. Community analysis of biting midges (Culicoides Latr.) on livestock farms in Denmark. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:4525-33. [PMID: 25326377 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4142-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This study presents descriptive statistics and community analysis of adult biting midges trapped at 16 livestock farms by means of light traps on Zealand and Lolland-Falster, Denmark. A total of 9,047 male and female Culicoides divided into 24 species, were caught. Biotic and abiotic factors ranging from presence of different host species (cattle or sheep/goats), presence of small woody areas or wetlands in the surrounding landscape, and agricultural practice (organic or conventional) were included in the community analysis. Only differences in the Culicoides communities between conventional and organic practices were tested significantly different. Total numbers of Culicoides individuals were higher on the organic farms than on the conventional farms. The larger loads of biting midges on the organic farms may be due to free-ranging animals that attracted the midges on pastures and carried them to the stable environment (the cattle of the conventional farms were held inside the stables). Presence of deciduous trees within 500 m of the farms resulted in higher numbers of Culicoides obsoletus s.s., while presence of wetlands increased the numbers of Culicoides punctatus and Culicoides pulicaris. Furthermore, Culicoides riethi and Culicoides puncticollis (subgenus Monoculicoides) were recorded in high numbers on individual farms. C. puncticollis was found for the first time in Denmark and so far only recorded from Zealand.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Nielsen
- Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, PO Box 260, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark,
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Systematic review of surveillance systems and methods for early detection of exotic, new and re-emerging diseases in animal populations. Epidemiol Infect 2014; 143:2018-42. [PMID: 25353252 DOI: 10.1017/s095026881400212x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In this globalized world, the spread of new, exotic and re-emerging diseases has become one of the most important threats to animal production and public health. This systematic review analyses conventional and novel early detection methods applied to surveillance. In all, 125 scientific documents were considered for this study. Exotic (n = 49) and re-emerging (n = 27) diseases constituted the most frequently represented health threats. In addition, the majority of studies were related to zoonoses (n = 66). The approaches found in the review could be divided in surveillance modalities, both active (n = 23) and passive (n = 5); and tools and methodologies that support surveillance activities (n = 57). Combinations of surveillance modalities and tools (n = 40) were also found. Risk-based approaches were very common (n = 60), especially in the papers describing tools and methodologies (n = 50). The main applications, benefits and limitations of each approach were extracted from the papers. This information will be very useful for informing the development of tools to facilitate the design of cost-effective surveillance strategies. Thus, the current literature review provides key information about the advantages, disadvantages, limitations and potential application of methodologies for the early detection of new, exotic and re-emerging diseases.
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Zimmer JY, Brostaux Y, Haubruge E, Francis F. Larval development sites of the main Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in northern Europe and distribution of coprophilic species larvae in Belgian pastures. Vet Parasitol 2014; 205:676-86. [PMID: 25241330 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2014] [Revised: 08/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Some Culicoides species of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are biological virus vectors worldwide and have indeed been associated with outbreaks of important epizoonoses in recent years, such as bluetongue and Schmallenberg disease in northern Europe. These diseases, which affect domestic and wild ruminants, have caused considerable economic losses. Knowledge of substrates suitable for Culicoides larval development is important, particularly for the main vector temperate species. This study, realized during two years, aimed to highlight the larval development sites of these biting midge species in the immediate surroundings of ten Belgian cattle farms. Moreover, spatial distribution of the coprophilic Culicoides larvae (C. chiopterus and C. dewulfi) within pastures was studied with increasing distance from farms along linear transects (farm-pasture-woodland). A total of 4347 adult specimens belonging to 13 Culicoides species were obtained by incubation of 2131 soil samples belonging to 102 different substrates; 18 of these substrates were suitable for larval development. The Obsoletus complex (formed by two species) was observed in a wide range of substrates, including silage residues, components of a chicken coop, dung adhering to walls inside stables, leftover feed along the feed bunk, a compost pile of sugar beet residues, soil of a livestock trampling area, and decaying wood, while the following served as substrates for the other specimens: C. chiopterus, mainly cow dung; C. dewulfi, cow dung and molehill soil; C. circumscriptus, algae; C. festivipennis, algae and soil in stagnant water; C. nubeculosus, algae and silt specifically from the edge of a pond; C. punctatus, mainly wet soil between silage reserves; C. salinarius, algae; and C. stigma, algae and wet soil between silage reserves. We also recorded significantly higher densities of coprophilic larvae within pastures in cow dung located near forests, which is likely due to the localization of potential hosts; the presence of these larvae within cow dung is, however, uninfluenced by relative distance from farms. A better knowledge of the microhabitats of Culicoides biting midges and their spatial distribution may allow the development of targeted species-specific vector control strategies, and may help to prevent the creation of new larval development sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Yves Zimmer
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Passage des Déportés 2, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium.
| | - Yves Brostaux
- Applied Statistics, Computer Science and Mathematics, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Passage des Déportés 2, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Eric Haubruge
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Passage des Déportés 2, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Francis
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Passage des Déportés 2, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium
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Uhlmann KR, Gibb S, Kalkhof S, Arroyo-Abad U, Schulz C, Hoffmann B, Stubbins F, Carpenter S, Beer M, von Bergen M, Feltens R. Species determination of Culicoides biting midges via peptide profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:392. [PMID: 25152308 PMCID: PMC4158057 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Culicoides biting midges are vectors of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses that inflict large-scale disease epidemics in ruminant livestock in Europe. Methods based on morphological characteristics and sequencing of genetic markers are most commonly employed to differentiate Culicoides to species level. Proteomic methods, however, are also increasingly being used as an alternative method of identification. These techniques have the potential to be rapid and may also offer advantages over DNA-based techniques. The aim of this proof-of-principle study was to develop a simple MALDI-MS based method to differentiate Culicoides from different species by peptide patterns with the additional option of identifying discriminating peptides. Methods Proteins extracted from 7 Culicoides species were digested and resulting peptides purified. Peptide mass fingerprint (PMF) spectra were recorded using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and peak patterns analysed in R using the MALDIquant R package. Additionally, offline liquid chromatography (LC) MALDI-TOF tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was applied to determine the identity of peptide peaks in one exemplary MALDI spectrum obtained using an unfractionated extract. Results We showed that the majority of Culicoides species yielded reproducible mass spectra with peak patterns that were suitable for classification. The dendrogram obtained by MS showed tentative similarities to a dendrogram generated from cytochrome oxidase I (COX1) sequences. Using offline LC-MALDI-TOF-MS/MS we determined the identity of 28 peptide peaks observed in one MALDI spectrum in a mass range from 1.1 to 3.1 kDa. All identified peptides were identical to other dipteran species and derived from one of five highly abundant proteins due to an absence of available Culicoides data. Conclusion Shotgun mass mapping by MALDI-TOF-MS has been shown to be compatible with morphological and genetic identification of specimens. Furthermore, the method performs at least as well as an alternative approach based on MS spectra of intact proteins, thus establishing the procedure as a method in its own right, with the additional option of concurrently using the same samples in other MS-based applications for protein identifications. The future availability of genomic information for different Culicoides species may enable a more stringent peptide detection based on Culicoides-specific sequence information. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-392) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Martin von Bergen
- Department of Proteomics, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
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Boender GJ, Hagenaars TJ, Elbers ARW, Gethmann JM, Meroc E, Guis H, de Koeijer AA. Confirmation of spatial patterns and temperature effects in Bluetongue virus serotype-8 transmission in NW-Europe from the 2007 reported case data. Vet Res 2014; 45:75. [PMID: 25223213 PMCID: PMC4423630 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-014-0075-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Two separate analyses were carried out to understand the epidemiology of Bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) in 2007 in North West Europe: First, the temporal change in transmission rates was compared to the evolution of temperature during that season. Second, we evaluated the spatio-temporal dynamics of newly reported outbreaks, to estimate a spatial transmission kernel. For both analyses, the approach as used before in analysing the 2006 BTV-8 epidemic had to be adapted in order to take into account the fact that the 2007 epidemic was not a newly arising epidemic, but one advancing from whereto it had already spread in 2006. We found that within the area already affected by the 2006 outbreak, the pattern of newly infected farms in 2007 cannot be explained by between-farm transmission, but rather by local re-emergence of the virus throughout that region. This indicates that persistence through winter was ubiquitous for BTV-8. Just like in 2006, we also found that the temperature at which the infection starts to spread lies close to 15 °C. Finally, we found that the shape of the transmission kernel is in line with the one from the 2006 epidemic. In conclusion, despite the substantial differences between 2006 and 2007 in temperature patterns (2006 featured a heat wave in July, whereas 2007 was more regular) and spatial epidemic extent, both the minimum temperature required for transmission and the transmission kernel were similar to those estimated for the 2006 outbreak, indicating that they are robust properties, suitable for extrapolation to other years and similar regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gert Jan Boender
- Department of Epidemiology, Crisis management and Diagnostics, Central Veterinary Institute (CVI), part of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 65, NL-8200 AB, Lelystad, Netherlands.
| | - Thomas J Hagenaars
- Department of Epidemiology, Crisis management and Diagnostics, Central Veterinary Institute (CVI), part of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 65, NL-8200 AB, Lelystad, Netherlands.
| | - Armin R W Elbers
- Department of Epidemiology, Crisis management and Diagnostics, Central Veterinary Institute (CVI), part of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 65, NL-8200 AB, Lelystad, Netherlands.
| | - Jörn M Gethmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler Institut, Institute of Epidemiology, Wusterhausen, Germany.
| | - Estelle Meroc
- Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA-CERVA), Brussels, Belgium.
| | | | - Aline A de Koeijer
- Department of Epidemiology, Crisis management and Diagnostics, Central Veterinary Institute (CVI), part of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 65, NL-8200 AB, Lelystad, Netherlands.
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Jupille H, Vega-Rua A, Rougeon F, Failloux AB. Arboviruses: variations on an ancient theme. Future Virol 2014. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl.14.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Arboviruses utilize different strategies to complete their transmission cycle between vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Most possess an RNA genome coupled with an RNA polymerase lacking proofreading activity and generate large populations of genetically distinct variants, permitting rapid adaptation to environmental changes. With mutation rates of between 10- 6 and 10-4 substitutions per nucleotide, arboviral genomes rapidly acquire mutations that can lead to viral emergence. Arboviruses can be described in seven families, four of which have medical importance: Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, Bunyaviridae and Reoviridae. The Togaviridae and Flaviviridae both have ssRNA genomes, while the Bunyaviridae and Reoviridae possess segmented RNA genomes. Recent epidemics caused by these arboviruses have been associated with specific mutations leading to enhanced host ranges, vector shifts and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri Jupille
- Department of Virology, Arboviruses & Insect Vectors, 25 Rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Anubis Vega-Rua
- Department of Virology, Arboviruses & Insect Vectors, 25 Rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
- Cellule Pasteur UPMC, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | | | - Anna-Bella Failloux
- Department of Virology, Arboviruses & Insect Vectors, 25 Rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
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Thompson GM, Jess S, Gordon AW, Murchie AK. Sticky-trapping biting midges (Culicoides spp.) alighting on cattle and sheep: effects of trap colour and evidence for host preference. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:3085-94. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3974-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Field trials assessing deltamethrin (Butox®) treatments of sheep against Culicoides species. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:2641-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3916-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Meiswinkel R, Scolamacchia F, Dik M, Mudde J, Dijkstra E, Van Der Ven IJK, Elbers ARW. The Mondrian matrix: Culicoides biting midge abundance and seasonal incidence during the 2006-2008 epidemic of bluetongue in the Netherlands. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2014; 28:10-20. [PMID: 23834350 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
During the northern Europe epidemic of bluetongue (BT), Onderstepoort-type blacklight traps were used to capture Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges weekly between November 2006 and December 2008 on 21 livestock farms in the Netherlands. Proven and potential vectors for the bluetongue virus (BTV) comprised almost 80% of the midges collected: the Obsoletus complex, constituting C. obsoletus (Meigen) and C. scoticus Downes & Kettle (44.2%), C. dewulfi Goetghebuer (16.4%), C. chiopterus (Meigen) (16.3%) and C. pulicaris (Linnaeus) (0.1%). Half of the 24 commonest species of Culicoides captured completed only one (univoltine) or two (bivoltine) generations annually, whereas multivoltine species (including all BTV vectors) cycled through five to six generations (exceeding the one to four generations calculated in earlier decades). Whether this increment signals a change in the phenology of northern Europe Culicoides or simply is an adaptive response that manifests during warmer episodes, thus heightening periodically the incursive potential of midge-borne arboviruses, remains to be clarified. Culicoides duddingstoni Kettle & Lawson, C. grisescens Edwards, C. maritimus Kieffer, C. pallidicornis Kieffer and C. riethi Kieffer are new records for the biting midge fauna of the Netherlands. It is suggested that C. punctatus (Meigen) be added to the European list of vector Culicoides.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Meiswinkel
- Department of Epidemiology, Crisis Organization and Diagnostics, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands; National Plant Protection Organisation, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Ayllón T, Nijhof AM, Weiher W, Bauer B, Allène X, Clausen PH. Feeding behaviour of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) on cattle and sheep in northeast Germany. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:34. [PMID: 24438698 PMCID: PMC3896851 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culicoides spp. play an important role in the transmission of several vector-borne pathogens such as Bluetongue and Schmallenberg virus in Europe. To better understand the biology of local Culicoides species, a study divided into three parts was performed in northeast Germany to elucidate the feeding activity patterns (study A), preferential landing and feeding sites (study B) and host feeding preferences (study C) of Culicoides spp. using cattle and sheep as baits. METHODS In study A, the activity of Culicoides spp. was monitored over a 72 h period by collecting insects at regular intervals from the interior of drop traps with cattle or sheep standing inside. In study B, Culicoides spp. were directly aspirated from the coat and fleece of cattle and sheep during the peak activity period of Culicoides. In study C, Culicoides spp. were collected using drop traps with either cattle or sheep standing inside and located 10 m apart. RESULTS In study A, 3,545 Culicoides midges belonging to 13 species were collected, peak activity was observed at sunset. In study B, 2,024 Culicoides midges were collected. A significantly higher number of midges was collected from the belly and flank of cattle in comparison to their head region. In study C, 3,710 Culicoides midges were collected; 3,077 (83%) originated from cattle and 633 (17%) from sheep. Nearly half (46.7%) of the midges collected from cattle were engorged, significantly more than the number of engorged midges collected from sheep (7.5%). Culicoides from the Obsoletus complex (C. obsoletus and C. scoticus) were the most common Culicoides species encountered, followed by C. punctatus. Other species identified were C. dewulfi, C. chiopterus, C. pulicaris, C. lupicaris, C. pallidicornis, C. subfascipennis, C. achrayi, C. stigma, C. griseidorsum and C. subfagineus, the last two species are reported for the first time in Germany. Engorged C. chiopterus were collected in relatively high numbers from sheep, suggesting that this species may have a preference for sheep. CONCLUSIONS An insight into the feeding behaviour of local Culicoides species under field conditions in northeast Germany was obtained, with implications for the implementation of control measures and midge-borne disease risk analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Peter-Henning Clausen
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str, 7-13, D 14163 Berlin, Germany.
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The influence of the wind in the Schmallenberg virus outbreak in Europe. Sci Rep 2013; 3:3361. [PMID: 24285292 PMCID: PMC6506448 DOI: 10.1038/srep03361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A model previously developed for the wind-borne spread by midges of bluetongue virus in NW Europe in 2006 is here modified and applied to the spread of Schmallenberg virus in 2011. The model estimates that pregnant animals were infected 113 days before producing malformed young, the commonest symptom of reported infection, and explains the spatial and temporal pattern of infection in 70% of the 3,487 affected farms, most of which were infected by midges arriving through downwind movement (62% of explained infections), or a mixture of downwind and random movements (38% of explained infections), during the period of day (1600–2100 h, i.e. dusk) when these insects are known to be most active. The main difference with Bluetongue is the higher rate of spread of SBV, which has important implications for disease control.
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Shaw AE, Mellor DJ, Purse BV, Shaw PE, McCorkell BF, Palmarini M. Transmission of Schmallenberg virus in a housed dairy herd in the UK. Vet Rec 2013; 173:609. [PMID: 24197435 PMCID: PMC3888583 DOI: 10.1136/vr.101983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A E Shaw
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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