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Morphological and molecular differentiation between Culicoides oxystoma and Culicoides kingi (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Tunisia. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:607. [PMID: 34922599 PMCID: PMC8684274 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05084-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Culicoides kingi and Culicoides oxystoma belong to the Schultzei group of biting midges. These two species are vectors of disease in livestock of economic importance. As described in the literature, morphological identification for discrimination between them is still unclear. However, species-specific identification is necessary to solve taxonomic challenges between species and to understand their roles in disease transmission and epidemiology. This study aims to develop accurate tools to discriminate C. oxystoma from C. kingi using traditional morphometry and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR RFLP) assays for use in developing countries. Methods Specimens were collected from the region of Kairouan in central Tunisia. A total of 446 C. oxystoma/C. kingi individuals were identified using traditional morphometric analyses combined with PCR–RFLP of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Thirteen morphometric measurements were performed from the head, wings, and abdomen of slide-mounted specimens, and six ratios were calculated between these measurements. Multivariate analyses of the morphometric measurements were explored to identify which variables could lead to accurate species identification. Results Four variables, namely antennae, wings, spermathecae, and palpus length, were suitable morphometric characteristics to differentiate between the species. Digestion with the SspI restriction enzyme of the PCR product led to good discriminative ability. Molecular procedures and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the efficiency of this simple and rapid PCR–RFLP method. Conclusions This study highlights for the first time in Tunisia the presence of C. oxystoma and its discrimination from C. kingi using abdominal measurements and the PCR–RFLP method. This approach could be applied in future epidemiological studies at the national and international levels. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-05084-8.
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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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3
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de Beer CJ, Boikanyo SNB, Venter GJ, Mans B. The applicability of spectrophotometry for the assessment of blood meal volume inartificially fed Culicoides imicola in South Africa. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 35:141-146. [PMID: 32841397 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The volume of the blood meal of haematophagous insects will determine the number of infective particles taken up during feeding and may as such denote the minimum dose needed to infect a competent vector. Culicoides midges resort among the smallest of haematophagous vectors and determining and comparing their blood meal volumes may be challenging. Collected Culicoides imicola females were fed on defibrinated bovine blood through a Parafilm® membrane using a Hemotek® system. After feeding, the weight of pools of 10 engorged females was compared to that of 10 unfed females to determine the volume of blood imbibed. After weighing, the pools were homogenized and their absorbance read at 410 nm. Spectrophotometer readings were then converted to blood meal volumes using calibration curves, obtained by the dilution of known volumes of blood used for feeding. Although the mean blood meal volumes determined spectrophotometrically (0.06 μL), differed significantly (P < 0.01) from those obtained by weighing (0.07 μL), the range in blood meal volumes determined spectrophotometrically (0.03-0.08 μL) and by weighing (0.01-0.11 μL) was positively correlated (r = 0.7; P < 0.01). Both methods can be used to determine the blood meal volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J de Beer
- Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Vienna, Austria
- Epidemiology, Vectors and Parasites, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - S N B Boikanyo
- Epidemiology, Vectors and Parasites, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - G J Venter
- Epidemiology, Vectors and Parasites, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - B Mans
- Epidemiology, Vectors and Parasites, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
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Tugwell LA, England ME, Gubbins S, Sanders CJ, Stokes JE, Stoner J, Graham SP, Blackwell A, Darpel KE, Carpenter S. Thermal limits for flight activity of field-collected Culicoides in the United Kingdom defined under laboratory conditions. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:55. [PMID: 33461612 PMCID: PMC7814454 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04552-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are biological vectors of internationally important arboviruses and inflict biting nuisance on humans, companion animals and livestock. In temperate regions, transmission of arboviruses is limited by temperature thresholds, in both replication and dissemination of arboviruses within the vector and in the flight activity of adult Culicoides. This study aims to determine the cold-temperature thresholds for flight activity of Culicoides from the UK under laboratory conditions. METHODS Over 18,000 Culicoides adults were collected from the field using 4 W down-draught miniature ultraviolet Centers for Disease Control traps. Populations of Culicoides were sampled at three different geographical locations within the UK during the summer months and again in the autumn at one geographical location. Activity at constant temperatures was assessed using a bioassay that detected movement of adult Culicoides towards an ultraviolet light source over a 24-h period. RESULTS The proportion of active adult Culicoides increased with temperature but cold temperature thresholds for activity varied significantly according to collection season and location. Populations dominated by the subgenus Avaritia collected in South East England had a lower activity threshold temperature in the autumn (4 °C) compared with populations collected in the summer (10 °C). Within the subgenus Avaritia, Culicoides scoticus was significantly more active across all temperatures tested than Culicoides obsoletus within the experimental setup. Populations of Culicoides impunctatus collected in the North East of England were only active once temperatures reached 14 °C. Preliminary data suggested flight activity of the subgenus Avaritia does not differ between populations in South East England and those in the Scottish Borders. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate seasonal changes in temperature thresholds for flight and across different populations of Culicoides. These data, alongside that defining thresholds for virus replication within Culicoides, provide a primary tool for risk assessment of arbovirus transmission in temperate regions. In addition, the study also provides a comparison with thermal limits derived directly from light-suction trapping data, which is currently used as the main method to define adult Culicoides activity during surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. Tugwell
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, GU24 0NF UK
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Rd, Guildford, GU2 7AL UK
| | | | - Simon Gubbins
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, GU24 0NF UK
| | | | | | - Joanne Stoner
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, GU24 0NF UK
| | - Simon P. Graham
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, GU24 0NF UK
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Rd, Guildford, GU2 7AL UK
| | - Alison Blackwell
- APS Biocontrol Ltd, Prospect Business Centre, Dundee, DD2 1TY UK
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Mignotte A, Garros C, Gardès L, Balenghien T, Duhayon M, Rakotoarivony I, Tabourin L, Poujol L, Mathieu B, Ibañez-Justicia A, Deniz A, Cvetkovikj A, Purse BV, Ramilo DW, Stougiou D, Werner D, Pudar D, Petrić D, Veronesi E, Jacobs F, Kampen H, Pereira da Fonseca I, Lucientes J, Navarro J, de la Puente JM, Stefanovska J, Searle KR, Khallaayoune K, Culverwell CL, Larska M, Bourquia M, Goffredo M, Bisia M, England M, Robin M, Quaglia M, Miranda-Chueca MÁ, Bødker R, Estrada-Peña R, Carpenter S, Tchakarova S, Boutsini S, Sviland S, Schäfer SM, Ozoliņa Z, Segliņa Z, Vatansever Z, Huber K. The tree that hides the forest: cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:265. [PMID: 32434592 PMCID: PMC7238629 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04114-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Culicoides obsoletus is an abundant and widely distributed Holarctic biting midge species, involved in the transmission of bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Females of this vector species are often reported jointly with two morphologically very close species, C. scoticus and C. montanus, forming the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Recently, cryptic diversity within C. obsoletus was reported in geographically distant sites. Clear delineation of species and characterization of genetic variability is mandatory to revise their taxonomic status and assess the vector role of each taxonomic entity. Our objectives were to characterize and map the cryptic diversity within the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Methods Portion of the cox1 mitochondrial gene of 3763 individuals belonging to the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex was sequenced. Populations from 20 countries along a Palaearctic Mediterranean transect covering Scandinavia to Canary islands (North to South) and Canary islands to Turkey (West to East) were included. Genetic diversity based on cox1 barcoding was supported by 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene sequences and a gene coding for ribosomal 28S rDNA. Species delimitation using a multi-marker methodology was used to revise the current taxonomic scheme of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Results Our analysis showed the existence of three phylogenetic clades (C. obsoletus clade O2, C. obsoletus clade dark and one not yet named and identified) within C. obsoletus. These analyses also revealed two intra-specific clades within C. scoticus and raised questions about the taxonomic status of C. montanus. Conclusions To our knowledge, our study provides the first genetic characterization of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex on a large geographical scale and allows a revision of the current taxonomic classification for an important group of vector species of livestock viruses in the Palaearctic region.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Mignotte
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRAE, Montpellier, France. .,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France.
| | - Claire Garros
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRAE, Montpellier, France. .,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France.
| | - Laetitia Gardès
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRAE, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 97170, Petit-Bourg, Guadeloupe, France
| | - Thomas Balenghien
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRAE, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France.,Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Unité Parasitologie et Maladies Parasitaires, 10100, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Maxime Duhayon
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRAE, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Ignace Rakotoarivony
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRAE, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Laura Tabourin
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRAE, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Léa Poujol
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRAE, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, DIHP UR 7292, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Adolfo Ibañez-Justicia
- Centre for Monitoring of Vectors, National Reference Centre, Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ahmet Deniz
- Veterinary Control Central Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aleksandar Cvetkovikj
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
| | - Bethan V Purse
- Centre for Ecology, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - David W Ramilo
- CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Despoina Stougiou
- Department of Parasitology-Parasitic Diseases, Entomology & Bee Health, Veterinary Centre of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Doreen Werner
- Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Dubravka Pudar
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dušan Petrić
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Eva Veronesi
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Frans Jacobs
- Centre for Monitoring of Vectors, National Reference Centre, Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Isabel Pereira da Fonseca
- CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology, AgriFood Institute of Aragón (IA2) Veterinary Faculty, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Javier Navarro
- Departamento de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Producción y Sanidad Animal de Granada, Junta de Andalucía, Granada, Spain
| | - Josue Martinez de la Puente
- Doñana Biological Station, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jovana Stefanovska
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
| | - Kate R Searle
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Khalid Khallaayoune
- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Unité Parasitologie et Maladies Parasitaires, 10100, Rabat, Morocco
| | - C Lorna Culverwell
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Medicum, Haartmaninkatu 3, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | | | - Maria Bourquia
- Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France.,Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Unité Parasitologie et Maladies Parasitaires, 10100, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Maria Goffredo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Marina Bisia
- Department of Parasitology-Parasitic Diseases, Entomology & Bee Health, Veterinary Centre of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Matthew Robin
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Michela Quaglia
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Miguel Ángel Miranda-Chueca
- Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Research Group, University of the Balearic Islands UIB, Palma, Spain
| | - René Bødker
- University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rosa Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Pathology, AgriFood Institute of Aragón (IA2) Veterinary Faculty, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Simona Tchakarova
- National Diagnostic and Research Veterinary Medical Institute, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Sofia Boutsini
- Department of Parasitology-Parasitic Diseases, Entomology & Bee Health, Veterinary Centre of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Stefanie M Schäfer
- Centre for Ecology, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Zanda Ozoliņa
- Institute of Food safety, Animal Health and Environment 'BIOR', Riga, Latvia
| | - Zanda Segliņa
- Institute of Food safety, Animal Health and Environment 'BIOR', Riga, Latvia
| | - Zati Vatansever
- Veterinary Control Central Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Karine Huber
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRAE, Montpellier, France
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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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7
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Pudar D, Petrić D, Allène X, Alten B, Ayhan N, Cvetkovikj A, Garros C, Goletić T, Gunay F, Hlavackova K, Ćupina AI, Kavran M, Lestinova T, Mathieu B, Mikov O, Pajović I, Rakotoarivony I, Stefanovska J, Vaselek S, Zuko A, Balenghien T. An update of the Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) checklist for the Balkans. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:462. [PMID: 30103828 PMCID: PMC6088421 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3051-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prime significance of species belonging to the genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is their ability to transmit viruses such as bluetongue virus (BTV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Prior to 1998, BTV was considered exotic in Europe, but according to recent history of its outbreaks, it has become endemic in southern and eastern European countries circulating beyond its expected historical limits, into the Balkan region. The wind-borne long-distance dispersal of Culicoides spp. over water bodies and local spreading between farms emphasize the necessity of filling in the information gaps regarding vector species distribution. In most Balkan countries, data on Culicoides fauna and species distribution are lacking, or information is old and scarce. RESULTS During this study, 8586 specimens belonging to 41 species were collected. We present the first faunistic data on Culicoides species in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. For other countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Croatia), all historical records were compiled for the first time and then expanded with our findings to various extents. In all countries, confirmed or suspected BTV vector species belonging to the subgenera Avaritia and Culicoides were collected. The total number of species sampled during our field collections was 20 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (15 new records), 10 in Bulgaria (2 new records), 10 in Croatia (5 new records), 13 in FYROM, 9 in Kosovo, 15 in Montenegro, and 28 in Serbia. Of these, 14 species were registered for the first time in this part of the Balkans. CONCLUSIONS This paper provides the first data about Culicoides fauna in FYROM, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as new records and an update on the checklists for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Croatia. These findings provide preliminary insights into the routes of BTV introduction and spreading within the Balkans, and present a valuable contribution to further research related to Culicoides-borne diseases in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dubravka Pudar
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Phytomedicine and Plant Protection, Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dušan Petrić
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Phytomedicine and Plant Protection, Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Xavier Allène
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34398 Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, University Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
| | - Bulent Alten
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ecology Division, VERG Laboratories, Hacettepe University, Beytepe-Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nazlı Ayhan
- Virology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille cedex 05, France
| | - Aleksandar Cvetkovikj
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Claire Garros
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34398 Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, University Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-97490 Sainte Clotilde, Réunion
| | - Teufik Goletić
- Veterinary Faculty, Department of Zootechnics and Poultry, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Filiz Gunay
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ecology Division, VERG Laboratories, Hacettepe University, Beytepe-Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kristyna Hlavackova
- Faculty of Science, Department of Parasitology, Charles University in Prague, 2 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Aleksandra Ignjatović Ćupina
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Phytomedicine and Plant Protection, Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mihaela Kavran
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Phytomedicine and Plant Protection, Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Tereza Lestinova
- Faculty of Science, Department of Parasitology, Charles University in Prague, 2 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Medicine Faculty, Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology, University of Strasbourg, EA7292 Strasbourg, France
| | - Ognyan Mikov
- National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Laboratory of Experimental and Applied Parasitology, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Igor Pajović
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Ignace Rakotoarivony
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34398 Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, University Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
| | - Jovana Stefanovska
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Slavica Vaselek
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Phytomedicine and Plant Protection, Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Almedina Zuko
- Veterinary Faculty, Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Thomas Balenghien
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34398 Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, University Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
- IAV Hassan II, MIMC unit, Rabat, Morocco
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8
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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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Foxi C, Delrio G, Falchi G, Marche MG, Satta G, Ruiu L. Role of different Culicoides vectors (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in bluetongue virus transmission and overwintering in Sardinia (Italy). Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:440. [PMID: 27502924 PMCID: PMC4977893 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1733-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bluetongue (BT) epidemics have affected the Mediterranean island of Sardinia since 2000. While Culicoides imicola represents the main bluetongue virus (BTV) vector, other European Culicoides biting midges, possibly implicated in virus transmission, have been detected here. Understanding their distribution, seasonal abundance, and infection rates is necessary to predict disease incidence and spread across coastal and inland areas, and to define their role in virus overwintering. Methods Biting midge abundance was determined by light traps on selected farms representing diverse climatic conditions of Sardinia. Livestock-associated Culicoides species were morphologically and molecularly identified. Infection rates in prevailing midge species captured in 2013 during a BTV-1 outbreak were determined using RT-qPCR based virus detection in insect body pools, supplemented by specific body region analyses. The seasonal infection prevalence in Culicoides samples collected in 2001 in a BTV-2 affected farm was also determined. Results The Newsteadi complex (C. newsteadi species A and species B) prevailed among all biting midge species (47.7 %), followed by C. imicola (27.8 %) and the Obsoletus complex (C. obsoletus and C. scoticus) (17.6 %). Whilst Culicoides imicola was more abundant along the coast, the Newsteadi complex was frequently collected at higher altitude and the Obsoletus complex was notably associated to cattle farms. Culicoides pulicaris and C. punctatus abundance was found to be marginal in all farms. BTV was detected in parous female samples of all these species, and the full dissemination of the virus within the body of C. imicola, C. obsoletus, C. scoticus, and Newsteadi complex species was confirmed by analyses of thorax and head, containing salivary glands. Higher infection rates were associated with C. scoticus, C. newsteadi species A and species B, compared to C. imicola. The virus was detected in C. newsteadi species A and C. obsoletus in winter and spring, whereas it was mainly found in summer and autumn in C. imicola. Conclusions In Sardinia, bluetongue virus is transmitted by multiple Culicoides vectors, including C. imicola and the Newsteadi complex being the most important. The Newsteadi complex and other midge species can play an important role in internal areas and are likely to be directly involved in virus overwintering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cipriano Foxi
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Via E. De Nicola, Sassari, Italy
| | - Gavino Delrio
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Via E. De Nicola, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Falchi
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Via E. De Nicola, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Satta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Via Duca degli Abruzzi 8, Sassari, Italy
| | - Luca Ruiu
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Via E. De Nicola, Sassari, Italy.
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