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1
Žiegytė, Rita, Rasa Bernotienė, and Vaidas Palinauskas. "Culicoides segnis and Culicoides pictipennis Biting Midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), New Reported Vectors of Haemoproteus Parasites." Microorganisms 10, no. 5 (April 25, 2022): 898. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10050898.
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As bloodsuckers of birds, Culicoides biting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) play an important role in the transmission of avian haemosporidian (Haemoproteus) parasites, which are prevalent in many bird populations and cause disease, pathology, or even mortality in their hosts. Information about the role of the various Culicoides species in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites remains insufficient. This presents an obstacle for the better understanding of the epizootiology of haemoproteosis. The aim of this study was to determine new Culicoides species involved in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites in the wild. Biting midges were collected using UV traps on the Curonian Spit, Lithuania. Only parous Culicoides females were investigated: they were identified and were diagnosed for the presence of Haemoproteus parasites using both microscopy and PCR-based methods. We collected and dissected 420 parous Culicoides females. PCR-based screening showed that 28 parous Culicoides biting midges were infected with avian Haemoproteus parasites. Haemoproteid DNA was detected in Culicoides kibunensis, Culicoides pictipennis, Culicoides festivipennis, Culicoides segnis, Culicoides pallidicornis, and Culicoides obsoletus biting midges. The DNA of Haemoproteus palloris, genetic lineage hWW1, was found for the first time in C. pallidicornis. Haemoproteus sporozoites were detected in the salivary glands of two Culicoides segnis biting midges. According to the PCR results, one female contained Haemoproteus tartakovskyi (genetic lineage hHAWF1) DNA and another Haemoproteus majoris (genetic lineage hCCF5) DNA. The sporozoites of Haemoproteus parasites were also detected in the salivary glands of four C. pictipennis biting midges using microscopy, and this finding was confirmed by PCR as Haemoproteus parabelopolskyi DNA (genetic lineage hSYAT02) was detected in three out of the four biting midges. The obtained results supplement existing information about Culicoides biting midges as natural vectors of Haemoproteus spp. and add two new Culicoides species to the vector list, showing the low specificity of these parasites for the invertebrate hosts.
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Žiegytė, Rita, Rasa Bernotienė, and Vaidas Palinauskas. "Culicoides segnis and Culicoides pictipennis Biting Midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), New Reported Vectors of Haemoproteus Parasites." Microorganisms 10, no. 5 (April 25, 2022): 898. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10050898.
Full textAbstract:
As bloodsuckers of birds, Culicoides biting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) play an important role in the transmission of avian haemosporidian (Haemoproteus) parasites, which are prevalent in many bird populations and cause disease, pathology, or even mortality in their hosts. Information about the role of the various Culicoides species in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites remains insufficient. This presents an obstacle for the better understanding of the epizootiology of haemoproteosis. The aim of this study was to determine new Culicoides species involved in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites in the wild. Biting midges were collected using UV traps on the Curonian Spit, Lithuania. Only parous Culicoides females were investigated: they were identified and were diagnosed for the presence of Haemoproteus parasites using both microscopy and PCR-based methods. We collected and dissected 420 parous Culicoides females. PCR-based screening showed that 28 parous Culicoides biting midges were infected with avian Haemoproteus parasites. Haemoproteid DNA was detected in Culicoides kibunensis, Culicoides pictipennis, Culicoides festivipennis, Culicoides segnis, Culicoides pallidicornis, and Culicoides obsoletus biting midges. The DNA of Haemoproteus palloris, genetic lineage hWW1, was found for the first time in C. pallidicornis. Haemoproteus sporozoites were detected in the salivary glands of two Culicoides segnis biting midges. According to the PCR results, one female contained Haemoproteus tartakovskyi (genetic lineage hHAWF1) DNA and another Haemoproteus majoris (genetic lineage hCCF5) DNA. The sporozoites of Haemoproteus parasites were also detected in the salivary glands of four C. pictipennis biting midges using microscopy, and this finding was confirmed by PCR as Haemoproteus parabelopolskyi DNA (genetic lineage hSYAT02) was detected in three out of the four biting midges. The obtained results supplement existing information about Culicoides biting midges as natural vectors of Haemoproteus spp. and add two new Culicoides species to the vector list, showing the low specificity of these parasites for the invertebrate hosts.
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Kampen, Helge, and Doreen Werner. "Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as Vectors of Viruses." Microorganisms 11, no. 11 (November 4, 2023): 2706. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11112706.
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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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Rozo-Lopez, Paula, and Barbara S. Drolet. "Culicoides-Specific Fitness Increase of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus in Insect-to-Insect Infections." Insects 15, no. 1 (January 5, 2024): 34. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects15010034.
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Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an arthropod-borne virus affecting livestock. In the United States, sporadic outbreaks result in significant economic losses. During epizootics, Culicoides biting midges are biological vectors and key to the geographic expansion of outbreaks. Additionally, Culicoides may play a role in VSV overwintering because females and males are capable of highly efficient venereal transmission, despite their relatively low virus titers. We hypothesized that VSV propagated within a midge has increased fitness for subsequent midge infections. To evaluate the potential host-specific fitness increase, we propagated three viral isolates of VSV in porcine skin fibroblasts and Culicoides cell lines. We then evaluated the viral infection dynamics of the different cell-source groups in Culicoides sonorensis. Our results indicate that both mammalian- and insect-derived VSV replicate well in midges inoculated via intrathoracic injection, thereby bypassing the midgut barriers. However, when the virus was required to infect and escape the midgut barrier to disseminate after oral acquisition, the insect-derived viruses had significantly higher titers, infection, and dissemination rates than mammalian-derived viruses. Our research suggests that VSV replication in Culicoides cells increases viral fitness, facilitating midge-to-midge transmission and subsequent replication, and further highlights the significance of Culicoides midges in VSV maintenance and transmission dynamics.
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Sunantaraporn, Sakone, Thanaporn Hortiwakul, Kanyarat Kraivichian, Padet Siriyasatien, and Narisa Brownell. "Molecular Identification of Host Blood Meals and Detection of Blood Parasites in Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Collected from Phatthalung Province, Southern Thailand." Insects 13, no. 10 (October 8, 2022): 912. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects13100912.
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Five hundred and fifty-nine female biting midges were collected, and seventeen species in six subgenera (Avaritia, Haemophoructus, Hoffmania, Meijerehelea, Remmia, and Trithecoides) and two groups (Clavipalpis and Shortti) were identified. The dominant Culicoides species was C. peregrinus (30.94%), followed by C. subgenus Trithecoides. From blood meal analysis of engorged biting midges, they were found to feed on cows, dogs, pigs, and avians. The majority of blood preferences of biting midges (68%; 49/72) displayed a mixed pattern of host blood DNA (cow and avian). The overall non-engorged biting midge field infectivity rate was 1.44 % (7/487). We detected Leucocytozoon sp. in three Culicoides specimens, one from each species: C. fulvus, C. oxystoma, and C. subgenus Trithecoides. Crithidia sp. was found in two C. peregrinus specimens, and Trypanosoma sp. and P. juxtanucleare were separately found in two C. guttifer. More consideration should be paid to the capacity of biting midges to transmit pathogens such as avian haemosporidian and trypanosomatid parasites. To demonstrate that these biting midges are natural vectors of trypanosomatid parasites, additional research must be conducted with a greater number of biting midges in other endemic regions.
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BUKAUSKAITĖ, DOVILĖ, RASA BERNOTIENĖ, TATJANA A. IEZHOVA, and GEDIMINAS VALKIŪNAS. "Mechanisms of mortality in Culicoides biting midges due to Haemoproteus infection." Parasitology 143, no. 13 (September 9, 2016): 1748–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182016001426.
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SUMMARYWe examined the effects of Haemoproteus infection on the survival and pathology caused in the biting midges. Forty-six females of Culicoides impunctatus were exposed experimentally by allowing them to feed on a naturally infected red-backed shrike infected with Haemoproteus lanii (lineage hRB1, gametocytaemia 5·2%). Seventeen females were fed on an uninfected bird (controls). Dead insects were collected, counted and used for dissection, histological examination and polymerase chain reaction-based testing. Parasites were present in all experimentally infected biting midges, but absent from control insects. Survivorship differed significantly between the control and infected groups. Twelve hours post-exposure (PE), 45 (98%) experimentally infected midges were dead, but all control midges remained alive, and many of them survived until 7 day PE. The migrating ookinetes of H. lanii overfilled midgut, markedly damaged the midgut wall, entered the haemocoel and overfilled the abdomen and thorax of exposed biting midges. Massive infection by migrating ookinetes led to damage of abdomen and thorax of biting midges. The parasites often present in large clumps in the haemocoel in abdomen and thorax, leading to the interruption of the haemolymph circulation. These are the main reasons for rapid death of biting midges after feeding on high-intensity infections of Haemoproteus parasites.
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BLOSSER, ERIK M., BETHANY L. MCGREGOR, and NATHAN D. BURKETT-CADENA. "A photographic key to the adult female biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) of Florida, USA." Zootaxa 5433, no. 2 (April 5, 2024): 151–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5433.2.1.
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The biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) are a diverse group of blood-feeding flies that includes numerous pest and vector species. Major gaps exist in our knowledge of the biology and ecology of the majority of Culicoides spp., due in part to a lack of keys for identifying the biting midges of a given region. In Florida, USA, The Sand Flies of Florida (Blanton and Wirth, 1979) has been a foundational resource for biting midge identification since its publication. The identification keys to the 47 biting midge species (and one subspecies) in The Sand Flies of Florida are not illustrated, however, and frequently rely upon microscopic features (spermathecae, antennal sensory pattern, number of teeth on mandible) as discriminating characters. Here we provide an updated photographic key to 49 nominal species of Culicoides from Florida, USA. The revised key orders characters so that species of nuisance, medical or veterinary importance can be reliably identified without slide mounting, an aspect that should facilitate ecological field work. Synoptic tables summarize the taxonomic affinity, distribution, abundance, seasonality, and medical / veterinary importance of the Culicoides spp. from Florida, compiled from published sources.
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Lloyd, Aaron M. "FIELD EVALUATION OF TALSTAR (BIFENTHRIN) RESIDENTIAL BARRIER TREATMENTS ALONE AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH MOSQUITO MAGNET LIBERTY PLUS TRAPS IN CEDAR KEY, FLORIDA." Journal of the Florida Mosquito Control Association 68, no. 1 (June 10, 2021): 56–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.32473/jfmca.v68i1.129100.
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The effectiveness of bifenthrin applications to vegetation with and without commercial mosquito traps (Mosquito Magnet Liberty Plus) was evaluated against Culicoides biting midges in a residential coastal area located in Cedar Key, Florida. Efficacy evaluations were determined by surveillance trap collections and modified landing rate counts. In general, all treatments provided significant reduction from Culicoides biting midge pressure when compared with untreated yards with no traps (control). However, the combination of bifenthrin and Liberty Plus traps proved to be the most successful in reducing Culicoides compared with yards with only a Liberty Plus trap. Yards treated with bifenthrin alone or in combination with the Liberty Plus trap were more successful than controls, suggesting that Culicoides biting midge population suppression may be obtained through barrier application alone.
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da Conceição Abreu Bandeira, Maria, Allane Barros Cerqueira, Jorge Luiz Pinto Moraes, Reginaldo Peçanha Brazil, and José Manuel Macário Rebêlo. "Diversity of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Rural Settlements and Degraded Seasonal Deciduous Forests." Journal of Medical Entomology 59, no. 1 (October 11, 2021): 240–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab150.
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Abstract Biting midges are widespread in Brazilian natural ecosystems. However, deforestation and other activities that impact the environment are reducing natural habitats where biting midges proliferate. The objective of this study was to verify whether there is variation in the composition, richness, abundance, and seasonality of biting midges between wild and rural environments, in a forest area with intense deforestation. Biting midges were captured using 6 traps installed at an average height of 1.5 m in the peridomicile, intradomicile, and deciduous seasonal forests, once a month from May 2012 to April 2013. In total, 2,182 specimens of 13 species of the genus Culicoides were captured. Species richness was similar in the intradomicile (13 species), forest (12), and peridomicile (11), but species diversity was greater in the peridomicile (H’ = 0.803) compared with the intradomicile (H’ = 0.717) and forest (H’ = 0.687). The order of species dominance varied between the forest (Culicoides paucienfuscatus Barbosa > Culicoides leopodoi Ortiz > Culicoides foxi Ortiz > Culicoides ignacioi Forattini) and peridomicile + intradomicile habitats (C. paucienfuscatus > C. foxi > C. filariferus Hoffman > C. ignacioi). The activity of these dipterans was strongly influenced by meteorological variables, as biting midges are predominant in the rainy season (80.7% of specimens), when higher rainfall, relative humidity, and lower temperatures prevail. The abundance of biting midges was higher in the peridomicile + intradomicile (83.7% of specimens) compared with the degraded forest (16.3%), a result that reflects the loss of forest habitat due to intense and progressive deforestation.
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Chagas, Carolina Romeiro Fernandes, Carolina Hernández-Lara, Mélanie Duc, Kristina Valavičiūtė-Pocienė, and Rasa Bernotienė. "What Can Haemosporidian Lineages Found in Culicoides Biting Midges Tell Us about Their Feeding Preferences?" Diversity 14, no. 11 (November 8, 2022): 957. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d14110957.
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Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) parasites are transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. However, the natural vectors of only six of the almost 180 recognized Haemoproteus species have been identified. The aim of this study was to investigate wild biting midges naturally infected with Haemoproteus and to understand the interaction network between Culicoides and Haemoproteus in Europe. Culicoides were collected with UV light traps from different sites in Lithuania. Parous females were morphologically identified based on their wings and heads. PCR-based methods were used to detect the Haemoproteus DNA, and salivary gland preparations were analyzed for the presence of sporozoites. Of the 580 Culicoides analyzed, 5.9% were positive for Haemoproteus DNA, and sporozoites were found in two of 11 sampled biting midge species: Culicoides kibunensis and Culicoides segnis. The interaction network revealed that C. kibunensis and C. segnis are frequently associated with several Haemoproteus lineages. On the other hand, some Haemoproteus lineages were found to interact with only one Culicoides species. This was the first report of C. segnis being a competent vector for H. minutus TURDUS2, H. asymmetricus TUPHI01, H. majoris PHSIB1, and H. fringillae CCF3; and of C. kibunensis being a competent vector for H. belopolskyi HIICT1. Culicoides segnis and C. kibunensis are both important vectors of Haemoproteus parasites.
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De Sousa Farias, Emanuelle, Antonio Marques Pereira Júnior, Jéssica Feijó Almeida, Felipe Arley Costa Pessoa, and Jansen Fernandes Medeiros. "Hematophagous biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Tefé municipality, Amazonas state, Brazil." Check List 11, no. 4 (June 13, 2015): 1676. http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/11.4.1676.
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Some species of biting midges are vectors of pathogens that cause disease in vertebrates, including humans. The aim of this study was to survey the biting midge fauna in Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil. Culicoides were collected using HP light traps during January, February, and April 2013. Midges collected included one species from the genus Lectoconops that bites humans. A total of 248 Culicoides individuals were collected, representing 19 species from two subgenera (Haematomyidium and Hoffmania) and four informal species groups (carpenteri, leoni, fluvialis, and reticulatus). Twelve individuals of L. brasiliensis were also collected, and this is the first record of L. brasiliensis in Amazonas. Three species of Culicoides were also recorded for the first time in Amazonas, including Culicoides aitkeni, C. glabellus and C. ocumarensis. The most abundant species were C. hylas (81 individuals), and C. foxi (27). The Culicoides fauna in Tefé is diverse, and proven vectors such as C. paraensis and C. insignis were found.
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Svobodová, Milena, Lenka Zídková, Ivan Čepička, Miroslav Oborník, Julius Lukeš, and Jan Votýpka. "Sergeia podlipaevi gen. nov., sp. nov. (Trypanosomatidae, Kinetoplastida), a parasite of biting midges (Ceratopogonidae, Diptera)." International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 57, no. 2 (February 1, 2007): 423–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.64557-0.
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Three strains of a trypanosomatid protozoan were isolated from the midguts of two naturally infected species of biting midges [Culicoides (Oecacta) festivipennis and Culicoides (Oecacta) truncorum] and characterized by light and electron microscopy and by molecular techniques. Morphological characteristics and sequences of the 18S rRNA, 5S rRNA, spliced leader RNA and glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes indicate that the studied flagellates represent a novel phylogenetic lineage within the Trypanosomatidae. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the novel endosymbiont-free, monoxenous trypanosomatid was classified as Sergeia podlipaevi gen. nov., sp. nov. Interestingly, it is closely related to another trypanosomatid species that parasitizes the sand fly Lutzomyia evansi, a blood-sucking dipteran from South America. The type strain of S. podlipaevi sp. nov., ICUL/CZ/2000/CER3, was obtained from Malpighian tubes. Of 2518 females of seven species of biting midges trapped in the Czech Republic, more than 1.5 % were infected by trypanosomatid parasites. An unrelated insect species, Culicoides (Monoculicoides) nubeculosus, was experimentally infected with S. podlipaevi, demonstrating that its host range extends to different subgenera of biting midges.
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Sick, Franziska, Martin Beer, Helge Kampen, and Kerstin Wernike. "Culicoides Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance." Viruses 11, no. 4 (April 24, 2019): 376. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v11040376.
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Culicoides biting midges, small hematophagous dipterans, are the demonstrated or putative vectors of multiple arboviruses of veterinary and public health importance. Despite its relevance in disease spread, the ceratopogonid genus Culicoides is still a largely neglected group of species, predominantly because the major human-affecting arboviruses are considered to be transmitted by mosquitoes. However, when a pathogen is detected in a certain vector species, a thorough search for further vectors often remains undone and, therefore, the relevant vector species may remain unknown. Furthermore, for many hematophagous arthropods, true vector competence is often merely suspected and not experimentally proven. Therefore, we aim to illuminate the general impact of Culicoides biting midges and to summarize the knowledge about biting midge-borne disease agents using the order Bunyavirales, the largest and most diverse group of RNA viruses, as an example. When considering only viruses evidentially transmitted by Culicoides midges, the Simbu serogroup (genus Orthobunyavirus) is presumably the most important group within the virus order. Its members are of great veterinary importance, as a variety of simbuviruses, e.g., the species Akabane orthobunyavirus or Schmallenberg orthobunyavirus, induces severe congenital infections in pregnant animals. The major zoonotic representative of this serogroup occurs in South and Central America and causes the so-called Oropouche fever, an acute febrile illness in humans.
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SZADZIEWSKI, RYSZARD, PATRYCJA DOMINIAK, ELŻBIETA SONTAG, WIESŁAW KRZEMIŃSKI, BO WANG, and JACEK SZWEDO. "Haematophagous biting midges of the extant genus Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) evolved during the mid-Cretaceous." Zootaxa 4688, no. 4 (October 24, 2019): 535–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4688.4.5.
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Four new fossil species of haematophagous biting midges of the genus Culicoides Latreille, from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber are described and illustrated: C. bojarskii Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov., C. burmiticus Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov., C. ellenbergeri Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov. and C. myanmaricus Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov. These extinct species are assigned to the new subgenus, Groganomyia Szadziewski & Dominiak subgen. nov. which also includes an extant species that inhabits European mountains, Culicoides cameroni Campbell & Pelham-Clinton, 1960, the type species. These very old (99 Ma) haematophagous biting midges of the extant genus Culicoides from Burmese amber supports the hypothesis that most groups of modern biting midges evolved during the mid-Cretaceous greenhouse climate.
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KAUFMANN, CHRISTIAN, FRANCIS SCHAFFNER, DOMINIK ZIEGLER, VALENTIN PFLÜGER, and ALEXANDER MATHIS. "Identification of field-caught Culicoides biting midges using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry." Parasitology 139, no. 2 (October 19, 2011): 248–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182011001764.
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SUMMARYCulicoides biting midges are of great importance as vectors of pathogens and elicitors of allergy. As an alternative for the identification of these tiny insects, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was evaluated. Protein mass fingerprints were determined for 4–5 field-caught reference (genetically confirmed) individuals of 12 Culicoides species from Switzerland, C. imicola from France, laboratory-reared C. nubeculosus and a non-biting midge. Reproducibility and accuracy of the database was tested in a validation study by analysing 108 mostly field-caught target Culicoides midges and 3 specimens from a non-target species. A reference database of biomarker mass sets containing between 24 and 38 masses for the different species could be established. Automated database-based identification was achieved for 101 of the 108 specimens. The remaining 7 midges required manual full comparison with the reference spectra yielding correct identification for 6 specimens and an ambiguous result for the seventh individual. Specimens of the non-target species did not yield identification. Protein profiling by MALDI-TOF, which is compatible with morphological and genetic identification of specimens, can be used as an alternative, quick and inexpensive tool to accurately identify Culicoides biting midges collected in the field.
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Dähn, Oliver, Doreen Werner, Bruno Mathieu, and Helge Kampen. "Development of Conventional Multiplex PCR Assays for the Identification of 21 West Palaearctic Biting Midge Taxa (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Belonging to the Culicoides Subgenus Culicoides, including Recently Discovered Species and Genetic Variants." Diversity 15, no. 6 (May 24, 2023): 699. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d15060699.
Full textAbstract:
In 2006 and 2011, two biting-midge-borne arboviruses of high veterinary importance emerged for the first time in Central Europe: bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV). Members of the native Obsoletus and Pulicaris Groups were soon identified as the potential vectors. However, despite several years of extensive taxonomic research on these groups, correct species identification and differentiation from closely related species are still challenging due to isomorphic features, the existence of cryptic species and obsolete PCR identification assays. At present, 17 valid West Palaearctic biting midge species of the Culicoides subgenus Culicoides, including the Pulicaris Group, are known, and additional genetic variants have been described. For many of them, no identification tests are available, and their roles in disease transmission have remained unknown. In this study, 465 GenBank DNA sequence entries of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were used to design PCR primers as specific genetic markers for 21 West Palaearctic biting midge taxa of the Culicoides subgenus Culicoides. During their validation with DNA from field-collected biting midges and synthetic DNA from biting midge genotypes not available from the field, all primers detected their target taxa, while few showed cross-reactions. Our results indicate the great potential of the new primers in PCR assays and clearly demonstrate the suitability of the COI gene as an excellent marker for the identification of different biting midge species and genetic variants of the Culicoides subgenus Culicoides.
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Žiegytė, Rita, Vaidas Palinauskas, and Rasa Bernotienė. "Natural Vector of Avian Haemoproteus asymmetricus Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection." Insects 14, no. 12 (December 5, 2023): 926. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects14120926.
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Avian haemosporidians (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) are widespread blood protists, often causing severe haemosporidiosis, pathology, or even mortality in their hosts. Migrant birds regularly bring various haemosporidian parasites from wintering grounds to European breeding areas. Some haemosporidian parasites are prevalent in breeding sites and complete their life cycles in temperate climate zones and can be transmitted, but others do not. The factors altering the spread of these haemosporidians are not fully understood. Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) play an important role in the transmission of worldwide distributed avian haemosporidian parasites belonging to the genus Haemoproteus, but this information is particularly scarce and insufficient. The key factors limiting the spread of these pathogens in temperate climate zones, which we suspect and aim to study, are the absence of susceptible vectors and the ecological isolation of birds from vectors during the breeding period when transmission occurs. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how the habitats of biting midges and bird breeding sites influence parasite transmission while also seeking to expand our understanding of the natural vectors for these parasites. Biting midges were collected using UV traps on the Curonian Spit, Lithuania, in different habitats, such as woodland and reeds, from May to September. Parous Culicoides females were identified, dissected, and investigated for the presence of Haemoproteus parasites using both microscopy and PCR-based tools. Among the dissected 1135 parous Culicoides females, the sporozoites of Haemoproteus asymmetricus (genetic lineage hTUPHI01) have been detected for the first time in the salivary glands of Culicoides festivipennis. The sporozoites of four Haemoproteus lineages were detected in Culicoides segnis, C. festivipennis, and Culicoides kibunensis biting midges. PCR-based screening showed that the females of seven Culicoides species were naturally infected with Haemoproteus parasites. The DNA of the parasite of owls, Haemoproteus syrnii (hSTAL2), was detected for the first time in Culicoides punctatus. The highest abundance of collected Culicoides females was in June, but the highest prevalence of Haemoproteus parasites in biting midges was in July. The abundance of Culicoides was higher in the woodland compared with reeds during the season. The acquired findings indicate the varied abundance and diversity of biting midges throughout the season and across distinct habitats. This variability could potentially impact the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites among birds with diverse breeding site ecologies. These outcomes hold the potential to enhance our understanding of the epizootiology of Haemoproteus infections within temperate climatic zones.
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Romiti, Federico, Romolo Fochetti, Adele Magliano, Vittorio Vinciguerra, Arianna Ermenegildi, and Claudio De Liberato. "First Report of Culicoides Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Attacking People in Italy, With the Description of Extreme Larval Breeding Sites and Diurnal Activity of Culicoides riethi." Journal of Medical Entomology 59, no. 2 (December 31, 2021): 772–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab212.
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Abstract Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) play a paramount role in medical and veterinary entomology worldwide, particularly as vectors of pathogens which cause animal diseases. Biting midges are also infamous for the nuisance they provoke to people involved in outdoor activities. Nonetheless, attacks to man by midges from any Culicoides species have not been reported in Italy. An entomological investigation was performed following repeated attacks to man in a nature park near Rome (central Italy). The study area is a natural degassing zone, characterized by widespread hazardous gas emissions of CO2 and H2S, with several water bodies including permanent lakes, ponds, and pools. The biting midge C. riethi Kieffer, 1914 was very active during daytime in the period April–June. The species has been identified as responsible for attacks on people in the area. An in-depth analysis of the extreme environmental conditions revealed the ability of larvae to thrive in several water bodies, characterized by an extremely low pH and a high concentration of sulfates.
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Breidenbaugh, Mark S., Elizabeth H. Foley, Caroline Brooks, and Will K. Reeves. "Nighttime Aerial Sprays for Control of Crepuscular Biting Midges in South Carolina." Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 36, no. 4 (December 1, 2020): 272–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.2987/20-6956.1.
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ABSTRACT Nighttime aerial spray applications with naled were conducted to evaluate their efficacy in controlling crepuscular biting midges (Culicoides spp.) in South Carolina, using a US Air Force C-130. Local populations of Culicoides spp. were monitored before and after the sprays with Mosquito Magnet traps to assess the efficacy of postsunset applications. Biting midge populations were consistently decreased by the aerial spray applications in this study. This indicates that nighttime sprays can be used to control these pests, even when their peak flight activity is focused around sunset.
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Sunantaraporn, Sakone, Arunrat Thepparat, Atchara Phumee, Sriwatapron Sor-Suwan, Rungfar Boonserm, Glenn Bellis, and Padet Siriyasatien. "Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as potential vectors for Leishmania martiniquensis and Trypanosoma sp. in northern Thailand." PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 15, no. 12 (December 15, 2021): e0010014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010014.
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Biting midges of genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are the vectors of several pathogenic arboviruses and parasites of humans and animals. Several reports have suggested that biting midges might be a potential vector of Leishmania parasites. In this study, we screened for Leishmania and Trypanosoma DNA in biting midges collected from near the home of a leishmaniasis patient in Lamphun province, northern Thailand by using UV-CDC light traps. The identification of biting midge species was based on morphological characters and confirmed using the Cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The detection of Leishmania and Trypanosoma DNA was performed by amplifying the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) genes, respectively. All the amplified PCR amplicons were cloned and sequenced. The collected 223 biting midges belonged to seven species (Culicoides mahasarakhamense, C. guttifer, C. innoxius, C. sumatrae, C. huffi, C. oxystoma, and C. palpifer). The dominant species found in this study was C. mahasarakhamense (47.53%). Leishmania martiniquensis DNA was detected in three samples of 106 specimens of C. mahasarakhamense tested indicating a field infection rate of 2.83%, which is comparable to reported rates in local phlebotomines. Moreover, we also detected Trypanosoma sp. DNA in one sample of C. huffi. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of L. martiniquensis in C. mahasarakhamense as well as the first detection of avian Trypanosoma in C. huffi. Blood meal analysis of engorged specimens of C. mahasarakhamense, C. guttifer, and C. huffi revealed that all specimens had fed on avian, however, further studies of the host ranges of Culicoides are needed to gain a better insight of potential vectors of emerging leishmaniasis. Clarification of the vectors of these parasites is also important to provide tools to establish effective disease prevention and control programs in Thailand.
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Probst, Christophe, Helge Kampen, D. Werner, Jörn M. Gethmann, Franz J. Conraths, and Martin Beer. "Comparaison de l'efficacité de quatre modèles de pièges lumineux pour la collecte de Culicoides piqueurs en Allemagne." Revue d’élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux 62, no. 2-4 (February 1, 2009): 139. http://dx.doi.org/10.19182/remvt.10049.
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Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are vectors of bluetongue disease, an OIE-listed animal disease which has recently led to severe economic losses in susceptible livestock species in Europe. Therefore, several affected countries conduct monitoring programmes for Culicoides spp. To compare the number and species composition of Culicoides obtained, the efficacy of various traps used to collect biting midges needs to be assessed. Four aspiration black light traps were thus compared: the Onderstepoort, John W. Hock, Riebt, and Biogents. One of the traps was operated from the 1st of April 2009 to determine the onset of increased Culicoides activity and thus the best time to start the study. The comparison was carried out from May 16th until September 26th. The traps were set up at four different sites on pastures of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut where cattle, sheep and goats were present. The comparison was carried out according to the Medreonet protocol in a 4×4 randomized Latin square design with one night of activity for each trap at each site. The highest number of Culicoides specimens was captured by the Onderstepoort (1245), followed by the Biogents (365), the Hock (30) and the Riebt (4) traps. The majority of midges caught was classified as belonging to the Obsoletus complex (1399), including C. obsoletus s.s., C. scoticus and C. chiopterus. Other encountered species were C. punctatus s.s. (87), C. albicans (78) and C. riethi (50). Most biting midges were collected in May (594) and June (575). In September only one Culicoides specimen was caught. The results show that the trap model has a great impact on the number of Culicoides caught. Culicoides monitoring programmes should be harmonised by using the same type of trap everywhere or by adjusting the numbers of collected biting midges using a trap factor. The trap model should be taken into consideration in the decision to declare the seasonally-determined vector-free periods.
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Werner, Doreen, Sarah Groschupp, Christian Bauer, and Helge Kampen. "Breeding Habitat Preferences of Major Culicoides Species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Germany." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 14 (July 11, 2020): 5000. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145000.
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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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Calvo, J. H., B. Berzal, C. Calvete, M. A. Miranda, R. Estrada, and J. Lucientes. "Host feeding patterns of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) within the Picos de Europa National Park in northern Spain." Bulletin of Entomological Research 102, no. 6 (May 31, 2012): 692–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0007485312000284.
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AbstractBlood meal identification can provide information about the natural host-feeding patterns or preferences of Culicoides species. Such information could indirectly provide data indicating which reservoirs are significant in associated vector-borne diseases.We positively identified the host species through DNA sequencing of the cytochrome b gene in 144 of the 170 (84.7%) blood meal specimens tested. In the remaining samples, identification of the blood-meal source was unsuccessful, possibly due to the post-ingestion time prior to sampling or the availability of the species-specific cytochrome b gene sequences in the database. The majority of identified blood meals were derived from mammalian blood (95.8%), and only six contained chicken blood. We identified five species as mammalian hosts for Culicoides spp.: sheep (87.7%), human (6.5%), cattle (3.7%) and Savi's Pine Vole (Micrototus savii) (2.1%). The results suggested that large mammals, specifically ruminants, were most frequently fed upon by biting midges (Culicoides spp.), but evidence of opportunistic feeding behaviour was also found. Host feeding behaviour of Culicoides species may also be influenced by the relative abundance of a particular host species in the area being studied. In this sense, Savi's Pine Vole, a wild species, was found to be a locally relevant host and a putative reservoir for viruses transmitted by species of biting midges belonging to the Culicoides genus.Finally, feeding on multiple potential host species was observed. One midge acquired blood meals from human and chicken hosts, while four other midges fed on two different sheep.
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Rozo-Lopez, Paula, Berlin Londono-Renteria, and Barbara S. Drolet. "Impacts of Infectious Dose, Feeding Behavior, and Age of Culicoides sonorensis Biting Midges on Infection Dynamics of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus." Pathogens 10, no. 7 (June 29, 2021): 816. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10070816.
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Culicoides sonorensis biting midges are biological vectors of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in the U.S. Yet, little is known regarding the amount of ingested virus required to infect midges, nor how their feeding behavior or age affects viral replication and vector competence. We determined the minimum infectious dose of VSV-New Jersey for C. sonorensis midges and examined the effects of multiple blood-feeding cycles and age at the time of virus acquisition on infection dynamics. A minimum dose of 3.2 logs of virus/mL of blood resulted in midgut infections, and 5.2 logs/mL resulted in a disseminated infection to salivary glands. For blood-feeding behavior studies, ingestion of one or two non-infectious blood meals (BM) after a VSV infectious blood meal (VSV-BM) resulted in higher whole-body virus titers than midges receiving only the single infectious VSV-BM. Interestingly, this infection enhancement was not seen when a non-infectious BM preceded the infectious VSV-BM. Lastly, increased midge age at the time of infection correlated to increased whole-body virus titers. This research highlights the epidemiological implications of infectious doses, vector feeding behaviors, and vector age on VSV infection dynamics to estimate the risk of transmission by Culicoides midges more precisely.
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Mills, Mary Katherine, Paula Rozo-Lopez, William Bart Bryant, and Barbara S. Drolet. "microRNA Expression Dynamics in Culicoides sonorensis Biting Midges Following Blood-Feeding." Insects 14, no. 7 (July 6, 2023): 611. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects14070611.
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Culicoides sonorensis midges vector multiple livestock arboviruses, resulting in significant economic losses worldwide. Due to the tight association between virus transmission, blood feeding, and egg development, understanding midge physiology is paramount to limiting pathogen transmission. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), specifically microRNAs (miRNAs), in multiple aspects of vector physiology. These small ncRNAs regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and display differential expression during pathogen infection. Due to the lack of annotated miRNAs in the biting midge and associated expression profiles, we used small RNA-Seq and miRDeep2 analyses to determine the Culicoides miRNAs in whole females and midgut tissues in response to blood feeding. Our analyses revealed 76 miRNAs within C. sonorensis composed of 73 orthologous and three candidate novel miRNAs, as well as conserved miRNA clusters. miRNA conservation suggests an interesting evolutionary relationship between miRNA expression and hematophagy in the infraorder Culicomorpha. We also identified multiple blood meal-regulated and tissue-enriched miRNAs. Lastly, we further identified miRNAs with expression patterns potentially associated with virus infection by probing publicly available datasets. Together, our data provide a foundation for future ncRNA work to untangle the dynamics of gene regulation associated with midge physiology.
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Kočišová, A., Z. Kasičová, M. Halán, and P. Komorová. "Occurrence of Biting Midges (Diptera: Culicoides) on Dairy Farms in Eastern Slovakia in Relation to Abiotic Factors." Folia Veterinaria 65, no. 4 (December 1, 2021): 47–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/fv-2021-0037.
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Abstract Within the scope of our research, we have performed 59 trapping sessions and collected 15,756 biting midges from 20 species at four farms (Kluknava, Ostrov, Turňa nad Bodovou and Zemplínska Teplica), The most frequent types of captured insects were representatives of the Avaritia subgenus, C. obsoletus/C. scoticus, representing on average 85.1 % (13,295 individuals) of the fauna of the biting midges, with the exception of the farm in Ostrov where this group represented only 41.7 % of the fauna. At this particular farm, the most frequently trapped insects belonged to the Culicoides subgenus (54.1 %), in particular the C. bysta, C. lupicaris, C. newsteadi, C. Pulicaris and C. Punctatus species. During the trapping sessions, we monitored factors affecting the number of trapped biting midges, such as the temperature, relative air humidity and airflow rate: the air temperature during the trapping of the biting midges ranged from 9.8 to 26.2 °C; the relative air humidity ranged from 35.1 to 100 %; and the air flow rate ranged from no wind to a wind velocity of 8.2 m.s-1. However, in the final evaluation, we failed to observe a statistically significant correlation between the air flow and the number of trapped biting midges. The largest amounts of biting midges were trapped at temperatures ranging from 15.8 to 24.6 °C and at a relative air humidity ranging from 54.2 % to 68.6 %. While monitoring the seasonal dynamics of the physiological conditions of biting midge females at the selected farms, we confirmed that during the period from June to August, the most frequently trapped females were parous (50.1 %; 7,826 individuals). In addition, nulliparous females comprised 43.8 % (6,842 individuals) and were continuously trapped throughout the season (April— November).
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Gomontean, Bhuvadol, Kotchaphon Vaisusuk, Wasupon Chatan, Komgrit Wongpakam, Papasara Sankul, Laksika Lachanthuek, Ronnalit Mintara, Isara Thanee, and Pairot Pramual. "Diversity, Abundance and Host Blood Meal Analysis of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Cattle Pens in Different Land Use Types from Thailand." Insects 14, no. 7 (June 22, 2023): 574. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects14070574.
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Biting midges of the genus Culicoides Latreille are significant pests and vectors that transmit pathogens to humans and other animals. Cattle are among the important livestock that can potentially be severely affected by Culicoides. In this study, we examined the species diversity, abundance, and host blood meal identification of biting midges in cattle pens located in three different land use types: villages, agricultural areas, and the forest edge. A total of 12,916 biting midges were collected, and most of these were from cattle pens located in villages (34%) and agricultural land (52%). Morphological identification revealed 29 Culicoides species. The most common species were C. oxystoma, C. mahasarakhamense, C. peregrinus, and C. shortti; taken together, these species represented >80% of all specimens collected. Despite midges being less numerous (14% of the total collection), cattle pens located near the forest showed greater diversity (23) than those from villages and agricultural areas. More diverse immature habitats and host blood sources from wildlife in nearby forests possibly explain the greater diversity in the cattle pens near the forest edge. Host blood meal analysis revealed that most (65%) biting midges had fed on buffalo despite the fact that this animal was much less numerous than cows or chickens. Relatively larger size and black-colored skin could be factors that make buffalo more attractive to biting midges than other host species. In this study, we also provided 67 DNA barcoding sequences of 13 species, three of which (C. flaviscutatus, C. geminus, and C. suzukii) were first reported from Thai specimens. DNA barcode analysis indicated cryptic diversity within C. hegneri and C. flavescens in Thailand, and thus, further investigation is required to resolve their species status.
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ANIȚĂ, Dragoș Constantin, Ioana Mădălina POPESCU, Ștefania ANDERCO, Luanda Elena OȘLOBANU, Adriana ANIȚĂ, and Gheorghe SAVUȚA. "Post-epidemic Occurrence of Bluetongue Virus Vectors (Culicoides Species) în Iași County." Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Veterinary Medicine 77, no. 2 (November 22, 2020): 160. http://dx.doi.org/10.15835/buasvmcn-vm:2020.0009.
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Culicoides is a genus of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae, representing a big threat, giving that several species serve as biological vectors of pathogens of veterinary importance. BTV distribution and persistence is thought to be almost entirely dependent upon the presence or absence of Culicoides adults vector. In this study, biting midges were collected during 2015-2016, once a week, from April to December. In the first year, 2617 BTV vector specimens were collected and identified as Culicoides obsoletus (41.2%; 95% CI: 39-43), Culicoides pulicaris (58%; 95% CI: 56-59) and Culicoides nubeculosus (0.8%; 95% CI: 0.4-1.1). In the second year, 165 BTV vector specimens were collected and identified as Culicoides obsoletus (44.25%; 95% CI: 36-51), Culicoides pulicaris (50.3%; 95% CI: 42-57), Culicoides dewulfi (4.84%; 95% CI: 1.5-8.1) and Culicoides nubeculosus (0.61%; 95% CI: 0.5-1.7). Culicoides pulicaris and Culicoides obsoletus complex were especially abundant within the two collection sites in Iași County. Our data on post-epidemic occurrence and composition of BTV vector species in the studied area will facilitate a better understanding of Culicoides vectors distribution and the possible role in bluetongue virus overwintering.
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McGregor, Bethany L., and Aaron Lewis. "Host Associations of Culicoides Biting Midges in Northeastern Kansas, USA." Animals 13, no. 15 (August 3, 2023): 2504. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13152504.
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Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are hematophagous flies that transmit several viruses of veterinary concern to livestock. Understanding blood feeding behaviors is integral towards identification of putative vector species and preventing the transmission of these pathogens. PCR-based blood meal analysis was conducted on 440 blood-engorged Culicoides midges collected in northeastern Kansas, with 316 (71.8%) returning non-human vertebrate identifications at the ≥95% identity match level. Broadly, Culicoides sonorensis, Culicoides stellifer, and Culicoides variipennis were found to feed heavily on mammalian hosts, while Culicoides crepuscularis and Culicoides haematopotus fed on avian hosts. The blood meals in all specimens were graded prior to DNA extraction to determine whether blood meal size or digestion status significantly impacted the likelihood of a quality host match. Size had a significant impact on the likelihood of a quality match at grades 3–5, whereas digestion only significantly impacted outcomes at the most extreme grade. These vector–host dynamics have not previously been studied in Culicoides collected in Kansas, which represents a unique tallgrass prairie biome within the United States that is heavily interspersed with livestock operations. Based on these data, the highly abundant species C. crepuscularis and C. haematopotus are unlikely to be major vectors of mammalian viruses.
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SPINELLI, GUSTAVO R., MARIA M. RONDEROS, and FLORENTINA DÍAZ. "Two new species and new records of Neotropical Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)." Zootaxa 4915, no. 3 (January 22, 2021): 401–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4915.3.8.
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The following two new species of biting midges of Culicoides Latreille are described and photographed: Culicoides carbonelli Spinelli & Martínez from Uruguay, and C. dellapei Spinelli, Ronderos & Díaz from Argentina. Culicoides crucifer Clastrier, 1968 and C. hoffmani Fox, 1946 are diagnosed and newly recorded from Argentina, and the studied specimens are photographed.
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Sanders, C. J., R. Selby, S. Carpenter, and D. R. Reynolds. "High-altitude flight of Culicoides biting midges." Veterinary Record 169, no. 8 (July 20, 2011): 208. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.d4245.
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Glick, Jayson I. "Culicoides Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Kenya." Journal of Medical Entomology 27, no. 2 (March 1, 1990): 85–195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/27.2.85.
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Bukauskaitė, Dovilė, Tatjana A. Iezhova, Mikas Ilgūnas, and Gediminas Valkiūnas. "High susceptibility of the laboratory-reared biting midges Culicoides nubeculosus to Haemoproteus infections, with review on Culicoides species that transmit avian haemoproteids." Parasitology 146, no. 3 (September 4, 2018): 333–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182018001373.
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AbstractHaemosporidian parasites belonging to Haemoproteus cause avian diseases, however, vectors remain unidentified for the majority of described species. We used the laboratory-reared biting midges Culicoides nubeculosus to determine if the sporogonic development of three widespread Haemoproteus parasites completes in this insect. The midges were reared and fed on one common blackbird, white wagtail and thrush nightingale naturally infected with Haemoproteus minutus, Haemoproteus motacillae and Haemoproteus attenuatus, respectively. The engorged females were dissected in order to follow their sporogonic development. Microscopic examination was used to identify sporogonic stages. Bayesian phylogeny based on partial cytochrome b gene was constructed in order to determine phylogenetic relationships among Culicoides species-transmitted haemoproteids. All three parasites completed sporogony. Phylogenetic analysis placed Culicoides species transmitted haemoproteids in one well-supported clade, proving that such analysis readily indicates groups of dipteran insects transmitting avian haemoproteids. Available data show that 11 species of Culicoides have been proved to support complete sporogony of 18 species of avian haemoproteids. The majority of Culicoides species can act as vectors for many Haemoproteus parasites, indicating the low specificity of these parasites to biting midges, whose are globally distributed. This calls for control of haemoproteid infections during geographical translocation of infected birds.
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Osborne, Cameron J., Lee W. Cohnstaedt, and Kristopher S. Silver. "Outlook on RNAi-Based Strategies for Controlling Culicoides Biting Midges." Pathogens 12, no. 10 (October 17, 2023): 1251. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12101251.
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Culicoides are small biting midges with the capacity to transmit important livestock pathogens around much of the world, and their impacts on animal welfare are likely to expand. Hemorrhagic diseases resulting from Culicoides-vectored viruses, for example, can lead to millions of dollars in economic damages for producers. Chemical insecticides can reduce Culicoides abundance but may not suppress population numbers enough to prevent pathogen transmission. These insecticides can also cause negative effects on non-target organisms and ecosystems. RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular regulatory mechanism that degrades mRNA and suppresses gene expression. Studies have examined the utility of this mechanism for insect pest control, and with it, have described the hurdles towards producing, optimizing, and applying these RNAi-based products. These methods hold promise for being highly specific and environmentally benign when compared to chemical insecticides and are more transient than engineering transgenic insects. Given the lack of available control options for Culicoides, RNAi-based products could be an option to treat large areas with minimal environmental impact. In this study, we describe the state of current Culicoides control methods, successes and hurdles towards using RNAi for pest control, and the necessary research required to bring an RNAi-based control method to fruition for Culicoides midges.
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Songumpai, Nopporn, Chulaluk Promrangsee, Preudtipong Noopetch, Padet Siriyasatien, and Kanok Preativatanyou. "First Evidence of Co-Circulation of Emerging Leishmania martiniquensis, Leishmania orientalis, and Crithidia sp. in Culicoides Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), the Putative Vectors for Autochthonous Transmission in Southern Thailand." Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease 7, no. 11 (November 15, 2022): 379. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7110379.
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Since 1996, autochthonous cases of emerging leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis and Leishmania (Mundinia) orientalis have been more frequently reported, especially in the northern and southern parts of Thailand. However, the accurate identification of their natural vectors and reservoirs remains unconfirmed. Previous studies have suggested that these emerging parasites might be transmitted by other non-phlebotomine vectors. Herein, we speculated that Culicoides biting midges might act as the competent vectors responsible for autochthonous leishmaniasis in southern Thailand. In this research, 187 non-engorged, parous and gravid Culicoides females and 47 blood-engorged ones were trapped from the residences of two recently diagnosed visceral leishmaniasis patients in Sadao District and the unaffected site in Rattaphum District, Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. Species diversity and abundance of biting midges varied among the trapping sites. Using ITS1-PCR and BLASTn analysis, L. martiniquensis was predominantly detected in several Culicoides species, including C. peregrinus, C. oxystoma, C. mahasarakhamense, and C. huffi from the vicinity of patients’ houses; and in C. fordae and C. fulvus from the unaffected site. L. orientalis was also co-circulated in C. peregrinus and C. oxystoma caught near the second patient’s house. Additionally, Crithidia sp. were also detected using SSU rRNA-PCR across Culicoides spp. Host blood meal analysis of eight different Culicoides species from the unaffected site also revealed that all trapped Culicoides had fed on cows and goats, indicating the possible role of these mammalian species as reservoir hosts. Essentially, this study is the first entomological investigation, revealing the co-circulation of emerging trypanosomatids among several species of Culicoides biting midges and strongly supporting the potential role of this insect group as the main vectors responsible for the epidemiology of autochthonous leishmaniasis in southern Thailand.
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Foxi, Cipriano, Giorgio Meloni, Giantonella Puggioni, Daniela Manunta, Angelamaria Rocchigiani, Luigi Vento, Pierangela Cabras, and Giuseppe Satta. "Bluetongue virus detection in new Culicoides species in Sardinia, Italy." Veterinary Record 184, no. 20 (March 7, 2019): 621. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.105118.
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Bluetongue is an infectious disease transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. Culicoides imicola is considered the main vector in the Mediterranean basin but other species have been implicated in the Bluetongue virus (BTV) transmission. During 2017, BTV serotype 4 re-occurred in Sardinia causing outbreaks in sheep farms. A survey was carried out on affected farms with the aim to detect the virus in field-collected Culicoides. Biting midges were morphologically identified, pooled and then assayed with a real time RT-PCR. To evaluate BTV dissemination, some Culicoides were dissected and head, thorax and abdomen were tested singly by PCR. A total of 173,738 Culicoides adults were collected. Viral RNA was detected in 68 out of 77 pools and all species analysed resulted positive. Detection of BTV in parous female body regions (head, thorax and abdomen) confirmed the full dissemination of BTV in all species analysed. During this study, the vector competence of C imicola, C newsteadi s.l. and Obsoletus complex was confirmed. The authors found two new Culicoides species BTV positive, C paolae never associated with BTV transmission and C circumscriptus only recently found BTV positive in Turkey, which could be considered potential vectors.
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Pavlík, Richard, Alica Kočišová, Andrea Schreiberová, Zuzana Kasičová, and Nikola Janošková. "Occurrence, Activity and Control Options Against Biting Midges (Diptera: Culicoides) in Horses." Folia Veterinaria 67, no. 3 (September 1, 2023): 18–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/fv-2023-0023.
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Abstract Biting midges are insects which annoy horses as they cause discomfort and by the sucking of blood, they cause painful lesions that, in certain cases, can trigger acute allergic reactions. They also act as potential vectors of many pathogens of bacterial, viral and parasitic origin. The aim of this study was to investigate seasonal dynamics, abundance and species composition of biting midges, and implementing protection options at the Equestrian centre of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy (UVMP) in Košice in the years 2021 and 2022. During this time period (of 2021 and 2022), we captured 4797 biting midges. Our results showed that in 2021 the most frequently captured species were C. obsoletus/C. scoticus (prevalence 86.6 %), followed by C. punctatus and C. pulicaris (prevalence 5.37 % and 3.86 %, resp.). In addition, C. lupicaris, C. newsteadi, C. furcillatus, C. festivipennis, C. slovacus, C. tauricus, C. clastrieri, C. dewulfi, C. fagineus and C. circumscriptus were identified as the minority species. In this year, the highest abundance of these insects (1758 biting midges) was observed at the end of June. In 2022, we detected a clear dominance of C. obsoletus/C. scoticus (prevalence 97.0 %) and the highest number of biting midges (655) was captured in mid-May). In this year, the minority species included, C. pulicaris, C. punctatus and C. lupicaris. The identification of the host blood showed that man (Homo sapiens) was the dominant host, namely of 80 % of the examined biting midges of species C. obsoletus/C. scoticus, C. dewulfi, C. punctatus and C. festivipennis. In one female of species C. fagineus we identified the host blood from horses (Equus caballusi). In 2022, we detected the blood of a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the species of C. obsoletus/C. scoticus.
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DEL RÍO, R., R. VENAIL, C. CALVETE, C. BARCELÓ, T. BALDET, J. LUCIENTES, and M. A. MIRANDA. "Sensitivity of Culicoides obsoletus (Meigen) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to deltamethrin determined by an adapted WHO standard susceptibility test." Parasitology 141, no. 4 (November 26, 2013): 542–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182013001935.
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SUMMARYBluetongue is a disease of major economic concern in Europe. Its causative agent, bluetongue virus (BTV), is transmitted by several Culicoides species (mainly Culicoides imicola and Culicoides obsoletus in Europe). The application of insecticides on animals may reduce transmission of BTV, however, no formulation is currently licensed specifically against Culicoides midges. The present study assesses the susceptibility of C. obsoletus to deltamethrin using an adapted World Health Organization (WHO) susceptibility test. Midges were exposed to different dosages of deltamethrin for 1 h, and mortality after 1 h and 24 h was recorded. Results indicated that deltamethrin is highly toxic to C. obsoletus since a dose of 1·33×10−4% was enough to kill 50% of the population (LD50) in 24 h. The deltamethrin concentration needed to kill 90% of the population (LD90) was 5·55×10−4%. The results obtained in the present work could help to create a system that can be used to assess insecticide resistance and susceptibility of Culicoides biting midges.
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Dähn, Oliver, Doreen Werner, Bruno Mathieu, and Helge Kampen. "Large-Scale Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I Gene Data Analysis for the Development of a Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Test Capable of Identifying Biting Midge Vector Species and Haplotypes (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the Culicoides Subgenus Avaritia Fox, 1955." Genes 15, no. 3 (March 1, 2024): 323. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes15030323.
Full textAbstract:
The emergence of culicoid-transmitted bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses in several European countries demonstrated the ability of indigenous biting midge species to transmit pathogens. Entomologic research programs identified members of the Obsoletus Group (Culicoides subgenus Avaritia) as keyplayers in disease epidemiology in Europe. However, morphological identification of potential vectors is challenging due to the recent discovery of new genetic variants (haplotypes) of C. obsoletus sensu stricto (s.s.), forming distinct clades. In this study, 4422 GenBank entries of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of subgenus Avaritia members of the genus Culicoides were analyzed to develop a conventional multiplex PCR, capable of detecting all vector species and clades of the Western Palearctic in this subgenus. Numerous GenBank entries incorrectly assigned to a species were identified, analyzed and reassigned. The results suggest that the three C. obsoletus clades represent independent species, whereas C. montanus should rather be regarded as a genetic variant of C. obsoletus s.s. Based on these findings, specific primers were designed and validated with DNA material from field-caught biting midges which achieved very high diagnostic sensitivity (100%) when compared to an established reference PCR (82.6%).
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Zídková, Lenka, Ivan Cepicka, Jan Votýpka, and Milena Svobodová. "Herpetomonas trimorpha sp. nov. (Trypanosomatidae, Kinetoplastida), a parasite of the biting midge Culicoides truncorum (Ceratopogonidae, Diptera)." International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 60, no. 9 (September 1, 2010): 2236–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.014555-0.
Full textAbstract:
Monoxenous trypanosomatid Herpetomonas trimorpha sp. nov. was isolated from the digestive tract of the biting midge Culicoides truncorum (Ceratopogonidae, Diptera). This species forms three distinct morphotypes in culture: the microflagellate promastigote, the small promastigote and the long promastigote. The last form is unique for the newly described species. Phylogenetic analyses of SSU rRNA and glycosomal glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase genes showed that H. trimorpha sp. nov. is the closest relative of Herpetomonas ztiplika, another monoxenous trypanosomatid isolated from biting midges. However, morphological and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analyses confirmed that H. trimorpha sp. nov. is distinct from H. ztiplika.
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Sperlova, A., and D. Zendulkova. " Bluetongue: a review." Veterinární Medicína 56, No. 9 (October 6, 2011): 430–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/3206-vetmed.
Full textAbstract:
Bluetongue is a non-contagious disease of domestic and wild ruminants caused by a virus within the Orbivirus genus of the family Reoviridae and transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. It is a reportable disease of considerable socioeconomic concern and of major importance for the international trade of animals and animal products. In the past, bluetongue endemic areas were found between latitudes 40°N and 35°S; however, bluetongue has recently spread far beyond this traditional range. This is in accordance with the extension of areas in which the biting midge Culicoides imicola, the major vector of the virus in the “Old World”, is active. After 1998 new serotypes of bluetongue virus (BTV) were discovered in Southern European and Mediterranean countries. Since 2006 BTV-serotype 8 has also been reported from the countries in Northern and Western Europe where Culicoides imicola has not been found. In such cases, BTV is transmitted by Palearctic biting midges, such as C. obsoletus or C. dewulfi, and the disease has thus spread much further north than BTV has ever previously been detected. New BTV serotypes have recently been identified also in Israel, Australia and the USA. This review presents comprehensive information on this dangerous disease including its history, spread, routes of transmission and host range, as well as the causative agent and pathogenesis and diagnosis of the disease. It also deals with relevant preventive and control measures to be implemented in areas with bluetongue outbreaks.
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LI, JIA-HUI, DAVID GOPURENKO, DU-CHENG CAI, YE-MENG YANG, RONG HU, ARUNRAT THEPPARAT, APRIL H. WARDHANA, et al. "Culicoides Latreille biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the Dongzhaigang mangrove forest, Hainan Province, China." Zootaxa 4227, no. 1 (January 31, 2017): 49. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4227.1.2.
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The biting midge fauna of Dongzhaigang Mangrove Forest, Hainan Province, China was sampled on 14 October 2015 using three methods: a pan light trap operated from dusk until dawn the following morning and sweep net and human landing collections performed between 16:15–17:15 hr. Eight species, including two new records for China, Culicoides palawanensis and C. niphanae, and one new record for Hainan, C. circumbasalis, were collected. A key to assist with identification of specimens of these species is provided. DNA barcodes supported the morphological identification of some of these species and identified the potential presence of cryptic species and/or deep population structure in others. The newly recorded species were morphologically similar to species previously reported from Hainan, highlighting the need for further investigation into the taxonomy of biting midges in this region. Species composition and abundance varied considerably between the three collection techniques suggesting that multiple techniques likely provide a more comprehensive sample of biting midge fauna.
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Duan, Ying Liang, Glenn Bellis, Bing Gang Liu, and Le Li. "Diversity and seasonal abundance of Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) in Shizong County, Yunnan Province, China." Parasite 29 (2022): 26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2022027.
Full textAbstract:
Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) are small biting midges, some of which are vectors for animal associated arboviruses such as bluetongue virus (BTV) and Akabane virus (AKAV). BTV and AKAV are both pathogenic for livestock, with BTV in particular posing a major threat to domestic ruminants. Ongoing problems with BTV in ruminants in Shizong County of Yunnan Province, China, promoted a year-long investigation of the Culicoides in Shizong to determine relative abundance and seasonality of midges and to attempt to identify species that might be acting as vectors in the area. Culicoides were collected by UV light trap for one night per week for most weeks between May 2020 and May 2021. More than 21,000 specimens consisting of at least 21 species belonging to six subgenera and one unplaced group, including 5 species previously associated with BTV and one associated with AKAV, were collected. Culicoides tainanus dominated most collections throughout the year although C. sumatrae was often the dominant species over summer. Most species were abundant between May and October. These results indicate that C. tainanus, C. jacobsoni and C. oxystoma are the major midge pests of livestock in Shizong and should be considered in any disease investigation.
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Lucientes, J., and P. M. Alarcón-Elbal. "Culicoides biting midges in Spain: A brief overview." Small Ruminant Research 142 (September 2016): 69–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.01.023.
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Bernotienė, Rasa, Tatjana A. Iezhova, Dovilė Bukauskaitė, Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas, Margarita Kazak, and Gediminas Valkiūnas. "Development of Trypanosoma everetti in Culicoides biting midges." Acta Tropica 210 (October 2020): 105555. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105555.
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Kęsik-Maliszewska, Julia, Aleksandra Antos, Jerzy Rola, and Magdalena Larska. "Comparison of Schmallenberg virus sequences isolated from mammal host and arthropod vector." Virus Genes 54, no. 6 (October 19, 2018): 792–803. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11262-018-1607-7.
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Abstract Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is the member of Peribunyaviridae family, which comprises pathogens of importance for human and veterinary medicine. The virus is transmitted only between animals and mainly by biting midges of the genus Culicoides. This study was performed in order to determine SBV genetic diversity and elucidate the host–vector adaptation. All three viral segments were analysed for sequence variability and phylogenetic relations. The Polish SBV strains obtained from acute infections of cattle, congenital cases in sheep, and from Culicoides midges were sequenced using Sanger and next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods. The obtained sequences were genetically similar (99.2–100% identity) to the first-detected strain BH80/11—4 from German cattle. The sampling year and origin of Polish sequences had no effect on molecular diversity of SBV. Considering all analysed Polish as well as European sequences, ovine-derived sequences were the most variable, while the midge ones were more conserved and encompassed unique substitutions located mainly in nonstructural protein S. SBV sequences isolated from Culicoides are the first submitted to GenBank and reported.
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Rozo-Lopez, Paula, Berlin Londono-Renteria, and Barbara S. Drolet. "Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by Culicoides sonorensis Midges." Pathogens 9, no. 4 (April 24, 2020): 316. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9040316.
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Culicoides sonorensis biting midges are well-known agricultural pests and transmission vectors of arboviruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The epidemiology of VSV is complex and encompasses a broad range of vertebrate hosts, multiple routes of transmission, and diverse vector species. In temperate regions, viruses can overwinter in the absence of infected animals through unknown mechanisms, to reoccur the next year. Non-conventional routes for VSV vector transmission may help explain viral maintenance in midge populations during inter-epidemic periods and times of adverse conditions for bite transmission. In this study, we examined whether VSV could be transmitted venereally between male and female midges. Our results showed that VSV-infected females could venereally transmit virus to uninfected naïve males at a rate as high as 76.3% (RT-qPCR), 31.6% (virus isolation) during the third gonotrophic cycle. Additionally, VSV-infected males could venereally transmit virus to uninfected naïve females at a rate as high as 76.6% (RT-qPCR), 49.2% (virus isolation). Immunofluorescent staining of micro-dissected reproductive organs, immunochemical staining of midge histological sections, examination of internal reproductive organ morphology, and observations of mating behaviors were used to determine relevant anatomical sites for virus location and to hypothesize the potential mechanism for VSV transmission in C. sonorensis midges through copulation.
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Bayramov, A., and M. Maharramov. "Study of the Culicoides (Insecta, Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) Fauna in Nakhchivan." Bulletin of Science and Practice, no. 11 (November 15, 2023): 101–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.33619/2414-2948/96/13.
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During hydrobiological studies in the Nakhchivan territory, 15 species of midge larvae were found in macrozoobenthos of different types of water bodies. The Culicoides genus prevails by the number of species (10 species). The number of Culicoides nubeculosus and C. longicollislarvae in lakes, rivers, springs and small water bodies of the region amounted to 3-21 spec./m2. During the warm period of the year, these two similar in appearance larvae were permanent organisms of water bodies at all altitudinal belts of the region. The distribution pattern of larvae across altitudinal belts was established; the number of species and density per habitat unit decreased from lowlands to altitudinal zones. Water and air temperature are the main factors determining the seasonal dynamics of the development of midges larvae. Considering that Ceratopogonidae larvae lead an aquatic lifestyle and have a wide variety of breeding centers, it is preferable to carry out appropriate control measures against adult biting midges.
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González, Mikel, Sergio López, Gloria Rosell, Arturo Goldarazena, and Angel Guerrero. "Cuticular and Internal Chemical Composition of Biting Midges Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Potential Vectors of Viral Diseases." Natural Product Communications 9, no. 8 (August 2014): 1934578X1400900. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1934578x1400900811.
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The chemical profile of the cuticle and internal tissues of four species of Culicoides have been studied for the first time by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The chemical composition of females of C. obsoletus s.l. and C. lupicaris, vectors of diverse viral diseases, have been compared with that of other biting midges, such as C. kibunensis and C. fascipennis, and the non-biting midge Forcipomyia bipunctata. A total of 61 compounds belonging to 8 major chemical classes were identified in cuticular and internal tissues in n-hexane extracts. The compounds include carboxylic acids (CAs) (C6-C20), with C16:0, C16:1 and C18:1 being dominant, branched hydrocarbons (C29 to C38 mono/di/trimethylalkanes), linear hydrocarbons (C15 to C33, mainly odd chain carbons), terpenes (geranylacetone, geranylgeraniol acetate, squalene, terpenic alcohol), steroids (cholesterol), aldehydes (C9-C10 and even chain C20 to C30), and esters. The chemical profile depends on the species and whether the extracts are external (cuticle) or internal. The contents of linear and branched hydrocarbons and aldehydes was high in cuticular extracts but practically absent in internal tissues, which were, in contrast, rich in CAs, terpenes and steroids. The results are discussed and compared with other Culicoides midges and mosquito-related species.
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Modha, Sejal, Joseph Hughes, Giovanni Bianco, Heather M. Ferguson, Barbara Helm, Lily Tong, Gavin S. Wilkie, Alain Kohl, and Esther Schnettler. "Metaviromics Reveals Unknown Viral Diversity in the Biting Midge Culicoides impunctatus." Viruses 11, no. 9 (September 17, 2019): 865. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v11090865.
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Biting midges (Culicoides species) are vectors of arboviruses and were responsible for the emergence and spread of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in Europe in 2011 and are likely to be involved in the emergence of other arboviruses in Europe. Improved surveillance and better understanding of risks require a better understanding of the circulating viral diversity in these biting insects. In this study, we expand the sequence space of RNA viruses by identifying a number of novel RNA viruses from Culicoides impunctatus (biting midge) using a meta-transcriptomic approach. A novel metaviromic pipeline called MetaViC was developed specifically to identify novel virus sequence signatures from high throughput sequencing (HTS) datasets in the absence of a known host genome. MetaViC is a protein centric pipeline that looks for specific protein signatures in the reads and contigs generated as part of the pipeline. Several novel viruses, including an alphanodavirus with both segments, a novel relative of the Hubei sobemo-like virus 49, two rhabdo-like viruses and a chuvirus, were identified in the Scottish midge samples. The newly identified viruses were found to be phylogenetically distinct to those previous known. These findings expand our current knowledge of viral diversity in arthropods and especially in these understudied disease vectors.