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Dähn O, Werner D, Mathieu B, Kampen H. 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 (Basel) 2024; 15:323. [PMID: 38540382 PMCID: PMC10969821 DOI: 10.3390/genes15030323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
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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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Dähn
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Doreen Werner
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Str. 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Institutes of Bacteriology and Parasitology, Medical Faculty, University of Strasbourg, UR 3073 PHAVI, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
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The investigation of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) species and Bluetongue virus and Schmallenberg virus in Northwest Türkiye. Trop Anim Health Prod 2023; 55:39. [PMID: 36640201 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-023-03454-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) act as mechanical and biological vectors of arboviruses and are crucial in the global spread of these viruses. This study investigated the diversity of distribution of Culicoides species and the presence of Bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in Tekirdağ province in Northwest Türkiye. The fourteen Culicoides species, such as Culicoides newsteadi, Culicoides schultzei, Culicoides nubeculosus comp., Culicoides punctatus, Culicoides circumscriptus, Culicoides obsoletus comp., Culicoides gejgelensis, Culicoides festivipennis, Culicoides longipennis, Culicoides spp., Culicoides pulicaris, Culicoides picturatus, Culicoides odiatus, Culicoides kurensis, and Culicoides flavipulicaris, were detected. Culicoides newsteadi, C. odiatus, and C. pulicaris were the most abundant species. Phylogenetic analyses of Culicoides species' ITS-1 gene region were performed. A pool of C. festivipennis was positive for SBV RNA, while the BTV genomic materials was not found in the qPCR analysis. This is the first report of the presence/detection of SBV in Culicoides species in Türkiye. The survey of bioecological and epizootiological aspects of vector species is essential in implementing effective control measures for arboviral infections.
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Belkharchouche M, Berchi S, Mathieu B, Rakotoarivony I, Duhayon M, Baldet T, Balenghien T. Update of the Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) species checklist from Algeria with 10 new records. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:463. [PMID: 32912306 PMCID: PMC7488159 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04335-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Culicoides fauna of Algeria has been historically investigated, leading to the description of many new species by Kieffer in the 1920s, Clastrier in the 1950s or Callot in the 1960s and to a comprehensive inventory by Szadziewski in the 1980s. The emergence of bluetongue in the late 1990s enhanced Culicoides collections made in the country over the last two decades, but information remained mostly unpublished. The aim of this study is therefore to provide a comprehensive and updated checklist of Culicoides biting midge species in Algeria. METHODS The literature (published and grey, in French and in English) from 1920 to date on Culicoides collections in Algeria was collected and analyzed in the light of the current taxonomic and systematic knowledge and methods. Fresh Culicoides material was also analyzed using light/suction trap collections carried out from November 2015 to September 2018 in nine localities of the 'wilayah' of Tiaret (northwestern Algeria). Slide mounted specimens were identified morphologically using the interactive identification key IIKC and original descriptions. Specimens were then compared with non-type material originating from different countries and partly with type material. RESULTS A total of 13,709 Culicoides, belonging to at least 36 species within 10 subgenera, were examined leading to 10 new records in Algeria, including C. chiopterus, C. dewulfi, C. navaiae, C. grisescens, C. paradoxalis, C. shaklawensis, C. simulator, C. univittatus, C. achrayi and C. picturatus. These new records and all previous records provided by the literature review were discussed. CONCLUSIONS We propose a Culicoides checklist for the Algerian fauna of 59 valid species, including species mainly with a large Palaearctic distribution and a specific Mediterranean distribution, and only a few species from the Afrotropical region. Among them, several species, mainly of the subgenera Avaritia and Culicoides, are confirmed or probable vectors of arboviruses important in animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mounira Belkharchouche
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Biotechnologie, Taoufik Khaznadar, nouveau pôle universitaire Ali Mendjeli, B.P. E66, 25100 Constantine, Algérie
- Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Université Ibn Khaldoun, B.P.75 Zaaroura, Tiaret, 1400 Algérie
- Laboratoire de Biosystématique et Ecologie des Arthropodes, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Département de Biologie Animale, Université Frères Mentouri, Constantine 1, 2500 Algérie
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, 34398 Montpellier, France
| | - Selima Berchi
- Laboratoire de Biosystématique et Ecologie des Arthropodes, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Département de Biologie Animale, Université Frères Mentouri, Constantine 1, 2500 Algérie
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologies Tropicales de Strasbourg (IPPTS), UR 7292, 3 Rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Ignace Rakotoarivony
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, 34398 Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Maxime Duhayon
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, 34398 Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Baldet
- ASTRE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, 97491 Sainte-Clotilde, La Réunion France
| | - Thomas Balenghien
- ASTRE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, 10101 Rabat, Morocco
- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Unité Microbiologie, Immunologie et Maladies Contagieuses, 10100 Rabat, Morocco
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Werner D, Groschupp S, Bauer C, Kampen H. Breeding Habitat Preferences of Major Culicoides Species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17145000. [PMID: 32664561 PMCID: PMC7400431 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17145000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopognidae) are demonstrably or putatively involved in the transmission of both bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg viruses (SBV) in Central Europe. Although these insects are ubiquitous in Europe, relatively little is known about their requirements in terms of breeding habitats and substrates. Culicoides species composition and relative abundance in potential breeding habitats were therefore studied at various locations in Northeastern Germany and one location in Western Germany by emergence trap collections. Forty-three potential breeding sites were analyzed in ten landscape structures, with 28,091 adult biting midges emerging from them. Among these, 2116 specimens belonged to the genus Culicoides. Species of the culicoid subgenus Avaritia were most abundant (70.6% of all specimens) and widespread (91.6% of all sites), while the subgenus Culicoides accounted for 15.6% of the specimens registered but emerged from 70.8% of all sites sampled. Culicoides species of other subgenera were collected in 75.0% of all studied sites, with a relative abundance of 8.7%. The results indicate that various types of dung, but probably also some landscape habitats, offer suitable substrates for the development of potential Culicoides vector species. Adaptations in dung management on farms and landscape design and use might therefore be appropriate approaches to reduce the risk of BTV or SBV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doreen Werner
- Research Area 2 “Land Use and Governance”, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), 15374 Müncheberg, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-33432-82-363
| | - Sarah Groschupp
- Research Area 2 “Land Use and Governance”, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), 15374 Müncheberg, Germany;
| | - Christian Bauer
- Working Group “Epidemiology”, Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Helge Kampen
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald, Germany;
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Zittra C, Wöss G, Van der Vloet L, Bakran-Lebl K, Shahi Barogh B, Sehnal P, Fuehrer HP. Barcoding of the Genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Austria-An Update of the Species Inventory Including the First Records of Three Species in Austria. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050406. [PMID: 32456256 PMCID: PMC7280969 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceratopogonidae are small nematoceran Diptera with a worldwide distribution, consisting of more than 5400 described species, divided into 125 genera. The genus Culicoides is known to comprise hematophagous vectors of medical and veterinary importance. Diseases transmitted by Culicoides spp. Such as African horse sickness virus, Bluetongue virus, equine encephalitis virus (Reoviridae) and Schmallenberg virus (Bunyaviridae) affect large parts of Europe and are strongly linked to the spread and abundance of its vectors. However, Culicoides surveillance measures are not implemented regularly nor in the whole of Austria. In this study, 142 morphologically identified individuals were chosen for molecular analyses (barcoding) of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (mt COI). Molecular analyses mostly supported previous morphologic identification. Mismatches between results of molecular and morphologic analysis revealed three new Culicoides species in Austria, Culicoidesgornostaevae Mirzaeva, 1984, which is a member of the Obsoletus group, C. griseidorsum Kieffer, 1918 and C. pallidicornis Kieffer, 1919 as well as possible cryptic species. We present here the first Austrian barcodes of the mt COI region of 26 Culicoides species and conclude that barcoding is a reliable tool with which to support morphologic analysis, especially with regard to the difficult to identify females of the medically and economically important genus Culicoides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Zittra
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.Z.); (L.V.d.V.); (K.B.-L.); (B.S.B.)
- Unit Limnology, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Günther Wöss
- Zoological Department 2, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (G.W.); (P.S.)
| | - Lara Van der Vloet
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.Z.); (L.V.d.V.); (K.B.-L.); (B.S.B.)
| | - Karin Bakran-Lebl
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.Z.); (L.V.d.V.); (K.B.-L.); (B.S.B.)
| | - Bita Shahi Barogh
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.Z.); (L.V.d.V.); (K.B.-L.); (B.S.B.)
| | - Peter Sehnal
- Zoological Department 2, Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (G.W.); (P.S.)
| | - Hans-Peter Fuehrer
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.Z.); (L.V.d.V.); (K.B.-L.); (B.S.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-(1)-25077-2205
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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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7
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Mathieu B, Garros C, Balenghien T, Candolfi E, Delécolle JC, Cêtre-Sossah C. A phylogenetic analysis of the biting midges belonging to Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) subgenus Avaritia using molecular data. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:243. [PMID: 32398143 PMCID: PMC7216621 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04111-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Within the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), the subgenus Avaritia is of particular interest as it contains a significant number of economically important vector species. Disagreements about the systematic classification of species within this subgenus have resulted in a taxonomic imbroglio. Methods A molecular phylogeny of the subgenus Avaritia was conducted to test the existing systematic classification, which is based on phenetic assessment of morphological characters. Three nuclear ribosomal markers, internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 (ITS1, ITS2), 5.8S, and three mitochondrial markers, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 2, and cytochrome b (cox1, cox2 and cytb), were obtained for 37 species of the subgenus Avaritia from all six biogeographical regions. Phylogenetic reconstructions using these genes independently and in combination were implemented using Bayesian inference analysis and maximum likelihood methods. Results Phylogenetic reconstructions gave strong support to several monophyletic groups within the subgenus Avaritia. Both C. actoni and C. pusillus formed a single clade with C. grahamii so their respective groups, the Actoni and Pusillus groups, have been merged with the Grahamii group. Some support was provided for the Boophagus and Jacobsoni groups. A group of species currently placed into the Orientalis group clustered in a clade with poor support. The Obsoletus group was defined as a sister clade to all other Avaritia groups. The clade including the Imicola group was well supported based on phylogenetic criteria. Conclusions This phylogenetic study combining five distinct molecular markers has provided meaningful insights into the systematic relationships of Culicoides (Avaritia) and highlighted future directions to continue the study of this subgenus. While the cox2 marker appeared to be useful to investigate closely related species, the 5.8S marker was highly conserved and uninformative. Further investigations including species absent from this work are needed to confirm the proposed systematic scheme. However, this systematic scheme can now serve as a foundation to investigate cryptic species affiliation within the subgenus. We advocate that future studies employ a combination of morphological and molecular analyses.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Mathieu
- IPPTS, Université de Strasbourg, DIHP UR 7292, 67000, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Claire Garros
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, F-34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Thomas Balenghien
- Cirad, UMR ASTRE, F-34398, Montpellier, France.,CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Rabat, Morocco.,Unité Microbiologie, Immunologie et Maladies Contagieuses, IAV Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Ermanno Candolfi
- IPPTS, Université de Strasbourg, DIHP UR 7292, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Catherine Cêtre-Sossah
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France.,CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France
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8
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Quantifying the potential for bluetongue virus transmission in Danish cattle farms. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13466. [PMID: 31530858 PMCID: PMC6749064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49866-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We used a mechanistic transmission model to estimate the number of infectious bites (IBs) generated per bluetongue virus (BTV) infected host (cattle) using estimated hourly microclimatic temperatures at 22,004 Danish cattle farms for the period 2000–2016, and Culicoides midge abundance based on 1,453 light-trap collections during 2007–2016. We used a range of published estimates of the duration of the hosts’ infectious period and equations for the relationship between temperature and four key transmission parameters: extrinsic incubation period, daily vector survival rate, daily vector biting rate and host-to-vector transmission rate resulting in 147,456 combinations of daily IBs. More than 82% combinations of the parameter values predicted > 1 IBs per host. The mean IBs (10–90th percentiles) for BTV per infectious host were 59 (0–73) during the transmission period. We estimated a maximum of 14,954 IBs per infectious host at some farms, while a best-case scenario suggested transmission was never possible at some farms. The use of different equations for the vector survival rate and host-to-vector transmission rates resulted in large uncertainty in the predictions. If BTV is introduced in Denmark, local transmission is very likely to occur. Vectors infected as late as mid-September (early autumn) can successfully transmit BTV to a new host until mid-November (late autumn).
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9
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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: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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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10
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Barber J, Harrup LE, Silk R, Veronesi E, Gubbins S, Bachanek-Bankowska K, Carpenter S. Blood-feeding, susceptibility to infection with Schmallenberg virus and phylogenetics of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the United Kingdom. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:116. [PMID: 29486789 PMCID: PMC6389053 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2650-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are responsible for the biological transmission of internationally important arboviruses of livestock. In 2011, a novel Orthobunyavirus was discovered in northern Europe causing congenital malformations and abortions in ruminants. From field studies, Culicoides were implicated in the transmission of this virus which was subsequently named Schmallenberg virus (SBV), but to date no assessment of susceptibility to infection of field populations under standardised laboratory conditions has been carried out. We assessed the influence of membrane type (chick skin, collagen, Parafilm M®) when offered in conjunction with an artificial blood-feeding system (Hemotek, UK) on field-collected Culicoides blood-feeding rates. Susceptibility to infection with SBV following blood-feeding on an SBV-blood suspension provided via either (i) the Hemotek system or via (ii) a saturated cotton wool pledglet was then compared. Schmallenberg virus susceptibility was defined by RT-qPCR of RNA extractions of head homogenates and related to Culicoides species and haplotype identifications based on the DNA barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) gene. RESULTS Culicoides blood-feeding rates were low across all membrane types tested (7.5% chick skin, 0.0% for collagen, 4.4% Parafilm M®, with 6029 female Culicoides being offered a blood meal in total). Susceptibility to infection with SBV through membrane blood-feeding (8 of 109 individuals tested) and pledglet blood-feeding (1 of 94 individuals tested) was demonstrated for the Obsoletus complex, with both C. obsoletus (Meigen) and C. scoticus Downes & Kettle susceptible to infection with SBV through oral feeding. Potential evidence of cryptic species within UK populations was found for the Obsoletus complex in phylogenetic analyses of cox1 DNA barcodes of 74 individuals assessed from a single field-site. CONCLUSIONS Methods described in this study provide the means to blood-feed Palaearctic Culicoides for vector competence studies and colonisation attempts. Susceptibility to SBV infection was 7.3% for membrane-fed members of the subgenus Avaritia and 1.1% for pledglet-fed. Both C. obsoletus and C. scoticus were confirmed as being susceptible to infection with SBV, with potential evidence of cryptic species within UK Obsoletus complex specimens, however the implications of cryptic diversity in the Obsoletus complex on arbovirus transmission remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Barber
- Vector-borne Viral Disease Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, UK
| | - Lara E Harrup
- Vector-borne Viral Disease Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, UK
| | - Rhiannon Silk
- Vector-borne Viral Disease Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, UK
| | - Eva Veronesi
- Vector-borne Viral Disease Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, UK.,National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstr. 266a, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Gubbins
- Vector-borne Viral Disease Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, UK
| | | | - Simon Carpenter
- Vector-borne Viral Disease Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, UK.
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11
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Augot D, Mathieu B, Hadj-Henni L, Barriel V, Zapata Mena S, Smolis S, Slama D, Randrianambinintsoa FJ, Trueba G, Kaltenbach M, Rahola N, Depaquit J. Molecular phylogeny of 42 species of Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) from three continents. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [PMID: 28643630 PMCID: PMC5482051 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2017020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The genus Culicoides includes vectors of important animal diseases such as bluetongue and Schmallenberg virus (BTV and SBV). This genus includes 1300 species classified in 32 subgenera and 38 unclassified species. However, the phylogenetic relationships between different subgenera of Culicoides have never been studied. Phylogenetic analyses of 42 species belonging to 12 subgenera and 8 ungrouped species of genus Culicoides from Ecuador, France, Gabon, Madagascar and Tunisia were carried out using two molecular markers (28S rDNA D1 and D2 domains and COI mtDNA). Sequences were subjected to non-probabilistic (maximum parsimony) and probabilistic (Bayesian inference (BI)) approaches. The subgenera Monoculicoides, Culicoides, Haematomyidium, Hoffmania, Remmia and Avaritia (including the main vectors of bluetongue disease) were monophyletic, whereas the subgenus Oecacta was paraphyletic. Our study validates the subgenus Remmia (= Schultzei group) as a valid subgenus, outside of the subgenus Oecacta. In Europe, Culicoides obsoletus, Culicoides scoticus and Culicoides chiopterus should be part of the Obsoletus complex whereas Culicoides dewulfi should be excluded from this complex. Our study suggests that the current Culicoides classification needs to be revisited with modern tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Augot
- USC Vecpar, ANSES-LSA, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap Santé, Faculté de Pharmacie, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, EA 4688, Reims 51096, France
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Médecine, 3 rue Koeberlé, EA7292, Strasbourg 67000, France
| | - Leila Hadj-Henni
- USC Vecpar, ANSES-LSA, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap Santé, Faculté de Pharmacie, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, EA 4688, Reims 51096, France
| | - Véronique Barriel
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CR2P-UMR 7207 CNRS, MNHN, UPMC, 8 rue Buffon, CP 38, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sonia Zapata Mena
- Instituto de Microbiologia, Colegio de Ciencias Biologicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, EC170157 Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Sylvia Smolis
- USC Vecpar, ANSES-LSA, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap Santé, Faculté de Pharmacie, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, EA 4688, Reims 51096, France
| | - Darine Slama
- Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, 99UR/08-05, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia
| | | | - Gabriel Trueba
- Instituto de Microbiologia, Colegio de Ciencias Biologicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbayá, EC170157 Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Matthieu Kaltenbach
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Pharmacie, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France
| | - Nil Rahola
- Unité MIVEGEC, UMR 224-5290 IRD-CNRS-UM, Centre IRD de Montpellier, BP 64501, 911 avenue Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier, France - Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769, Franceville, Gabon
| | - Jérôme Depaquit
- USC Vecpar, ANSES-LSA, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap Santé, Faculté de Pharmacie, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, EA 4688, Reims 51096, France
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12
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Harrup LE, Laban S, Purse BV, Reddy YK, Reddy YN, Byregowda SM, Kumar N, Purushotham KM, Kowalli S, Prasad M, Prasad G, Bettis AA, De Keyser R, Logan J, Garros C, Gopurenko D, Bellis G, Labuschagne K, Mathieu B, Carpenter S. DNA barcoding and surveillance sampling strategies for Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in southern India. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:461. [PMID: 27549137 PMCID: PMC4994320 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1722-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Culicoides spp. biting midges transmit bluetongue virus (BTV), the aetiological agent of bluetongue (BT), an economically important disease of ruminants. In southern India, hyperendemic outbreaks of BT exert high cost to subsistence farmers in the region, impacting on sheep production. Effective Culicoides spp. monitoring methods coupled with accurate species identification can accelerate responses for minimising BT outbreaks. Here, we assessed the utility of sampling methods and DNA barcoding for detection and identification of Culicoides spp. in southern India, in order to provide an informed basis for future monitoring of their populations in the region. Methods Culicoides spp. collected from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were used to construct a framework for future morphological identification in surveillance, based on sequence comparison of the DNA barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene and achieving quality standards defined by the Barcode of Life initiative. Pairwise catches of Culicoides spp. were compared in diversity and abundance between green (570 nm) and ultraviolet (UV) (390 nm) light emitting diode (LED) suction traps at a single site in Chennai, Tamil Nadu over 20 nights of sampling in November 2013. Results DNA barcode sequences of Culicoides spp. were mostly congruent both with existing DNA barcode data from other countries and with morphological identification of major vector species. However, sequence differences symptomatic of cryptic species diversity were present in some groups which require further investigation. While the diversity of species collected by the UV LED Center for Disease Control (CDC) trap did not significantly vary from that collected by the green LED CDC trap, the UV CDC significantly outperformed the green LED CDC trap with regard to the number of Culicoides individuals collected. Conclusions Morphological identification of the majority of potential vector species of Culicoides spp. samples within southern India appears relatively robust; however, potential cryptic species diversity was present in some groups requiring further investigation. The UV LED CDC trap is recommended for surveillance of Culicoides in southern India. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1722-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara E Harrup
- Vector-borne Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK.
| | - Swathi Laban
- Vaccine Research Centre-Viral Vaccines, Centre for Animal Health Studies, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai, 600 051, India
| | - Bethan V Purse
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Yarabolu Krishnamohan Reddy
- Vaccine Research Centre-Viral Vaccines, Centre for Animal Health Studies, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai, 600 051, India
| | - Yella Narasimha Reddy
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500030, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | | | - Naveen Kumar
- Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Hebbal, 560024, Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Shrikant Kowalli
- Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Hebbal, 560024, Bengaluru, India
| | - Minakshi Prasad
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, College of Veterinary Science, Hisar, 125004, Haryana, India
| | - Gaya Prasad
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, College of Veterinary Science, Hisar, 125004, Haryana, India.,Indian Council Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 110 001, India
| | - Alison A Bettis
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Rien De Keyser
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - James Logan
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Claire Garros
- Cirad, UMR15 CMAEE, F-34398, Montpellier, France.,INRA, UMR1309 CMAEE, F-34398, Montpellier, France
| | - David Gopurenko
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, PMB, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia.,Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia
| | - Glenn Bellis
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Winnellie, Australia
| | - Karien Labuschagne
- Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, PVVD, ZA-0110, Onderstepoort, South Africa.,Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, ZA-0002, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie tropicale de Strasbourg (IPPTS), EA7292, Faculté de Médecine, 3 rue Koeberlé, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Simon Carpenter
- Vector-borne Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
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13
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Steinke S, Lühken R, Balczun C, Kiel E. Emergence of Culicoides obsoletus group species from farm-associated habitats in Germany. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 30:174-184. [PMID: 26744290 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) may transmit several arboviruses to ruminant livestock. The species of the Obsoletus group are considered to be among the most important vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV) in northern Europe. As agricultural environments offer suitable habitats for the development of their immature stages, the emergence of adult Culicoides from potential breeding sites was investigated at 20 cattle farms throughout Germany in 2012 and 2013. In analyses of species-specific habitat preferences and relationships between Culicoides abundance in breeding substrates and their physicochemical characteristics, dungheaps emerged as the most important substrate for the development of Culicoides obsoletus sensu stricto (s.s.) (Meigen), whereas Culicoides chiopterus (Meigen) and Culicoides dewulfi Goetghebuer were generally restricted to cowpats. A decreasing pH value was associated with a higher abundance or a higher probability of observing these three species. Furthermore, the abundance of C. obsoletus s.s. was positively related to increasing moisture. Dungheaps were very productive breeding sites for this species and are therefore suggested as a target for potential control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Steinke
- Research Group for Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - R Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - C Balczun
- Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service, Koblenz, Germany
| | - E Kiel
- Research Group for Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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14
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Harrup LE, Bellis GA, Balenghien T, Garros C. Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) taxonomy: current challenges and future directions. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2015; 30:249-266. [PMID: 25535946 PMCID: PMC4330985 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Culicoides Latreille biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) cause a significant biting nuisance to humans, livestock and equines, and are the biological vectors of a range of internationally important pathogens of both veterinary and medical importance. Despite their economic significance, the delimitation and identification of species and evolutionary relationships between species within this genus remains at best problematic. To date no phylogenetic study has attempted to validate the subgeneric classification of the genus and the monophyly of many of the subgenera remains doubtful. Many informal species groupings are also known to exist but few are adequately described, further complicating accurate identification. Recent contributions to Culicoides taxonomy at the species level have revealed a high correlation between morphological and molecular analyses although molecular analyses are revealing the existence of cryptic species. This review considers the methods for studying the systematics of Culicoides using both morphological and genetic techniques, with a view to understanding the factors limiting our current understanding of Culicoides biology and hence arbovirus epidemiology. In addition, we examine the global status of Culicoides identification, highlighting areas that are poorly addressed, including the potential implementation of emerging technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Harrup
- Vector-borne Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK.
| | - G A Bellis
- University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - T Balenghien
- Cirad, UMR15 CMAEE, 34398 Montpellier, France; INRA, UMR1309 CMAEE, 34398 Montpellier, France
| | - C Garros
- Cirad, UMR15 CMAEE, 34398 Montpellier, France; INRA, UMR1309 CMAEE, 34398 Montpellier, France
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15
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Muñoz-Muñoz F, Talavera S, Carpenter S, Nielsen SA, Werner D, Pagès N. Phenotypic differentiation and phylogenetic signal of wing shape in western European biting midges, Culicoides spp., of the subgenus Avaritia. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2014; 28:319-329. [PMID: 24387691 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Revised: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade biting midges of the subgenus Avaritia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been popular subjects of applied entomological studies in Europe owing to their implication as biological vectors in outbreaks of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses. This study uses a combination of cytochrome oxidase subunit I barcode sequencing and geometric morphometric analyses to investigate wing shape as a means to infer species identification within this subgenus. In addition the congruence of morphological data with different phylogenetic hypotheses is tested. Five different species of the subgenus Avaritia were considered in the study (C. obsoletus (Meigen); C. scoticus Kettle and Lawson; C. chiopterus (Meigen); C. dewulfi Goetghebuer and C. imicola (Kieffer)). The study demonstrated that over 90% of individuals could be separated correctly into species by their wing shape and that patterns of morphological differentiation derived from the geometric morphometric analyses were congruent with phylogenies generated from sequencing data. Morphological data produced are congruent with monophyly of the subgenus Avaritia and the exclusion of C. dewulfi from the group containing C. obsoletus, C. scoticus and C. chiopterus. The implications of these results and their importance in a wider context of integrating multiple data types to interpret both phylogeny and species characterization is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Muñoz-Muñoz
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain
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16
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Uhlmann KR, Gibb S, Kalkhof S, Arroyo-Abad U, Schulz C, Hoffmann B, Stubbins F, Carpenter S, Beer M, von Bergen M, Feltens R. Species determination of Culicoides biting midges via peptide profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:392. [PMID: 25152308 PMCID: PMC4158057 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Culicoides biting midges are vectors of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses that inflict large-scale disease epidemics in ruminant livestock in Europe. Methods based on morphological characteristics and sequencing of genetic markers are most commonly employed to differentiate Culicoides to species level. Proteomic methods, however, are also increasingly being used as an alternative method of identification. These techniques have the potential to be rapid and may also offer advantages over DNA-based techniques. The aim of this proof-of-principle study was to develop a simple MALDI-MS based method to differentiate Culicoides from different species by peptide patterns with the additional option of identifying discriminating peptides. Methods Proteins extracted from 7 Culicoides species were digested and resulting peptides purified. Peptide mass fingerprint (PMF) spectra were recorded using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and peak patterns analysed in R using the MALDIquant R package. Additionally, offline liquid chromatography (LC) MALDI-TOF tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was applied to determine the identity of peptide peaks in one exemplary MALDI spectrum obtained using an unfractionated extract. Results We showed that the majority of Culicoides species yielded reproducible mass spectra with peak patterns that were suitable for classification. The dendrogram obtained by MS showed tentative similarities to a dendrogram generated from cytochrome oxidase I (COX1) sequences. Using offline LC-MALDI-TOF-MS/MS we determined the identity of 28 peptide peaks observed in one MALDI spectrum in a mass range from 1.1 to 3.1 kDa. All identified peptides were identical to other dipteran species and derived from one of five highly abundant proteins due to an absence of available Culicoides data. Conclusion Shotgun mass mapping by MALDI-TOF-MS has been shown to be compatible with morphological and genetic identification of specimens. Furthermore, the method performs at least as well as an alternative approach based on MS spectra of intact proteins, thus establishing the procedure as a method in its own right, with the additional option of concurrently using the same samples in other MS-based applications for protein identifications. The future availability of genomic information for different Culicoides species may enable a more stringent peptide detection based on Culicoides-specific sequence information. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-392) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Martin von Bergen
- Department of Proteomics, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
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Garros C, Balenghien T, Carpenter S, Delécolle JC, Meiswinkel R, Pédarrieu A, Rakotoarivony I, Gardès L, Golding N, Barber J, Miranda M, Borràs DB, Goffredo M, Monaco F, Pagès N, Sghaier S, Hammami S, Calvo JH, Lucientes J, Geysen D, De Deken G, Sarto I Monteys V, Schwenkenbecher J, Kampen H, Hoffmann B, Lehmann K, Werner D, Baldet T, Lancelot R, Cêtre-Sossah C. Towards the PCR-based identification of Palaearctic Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae): results from an international ring trial targeting four species of the subgenus Avaritia. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:223. [PMID: 24884950 PMCID: PMC4024274 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are biological vectors of internationally important arboviruses. To understand the role of Culicoides in the transmission of these viruses, it is essential to correctly identify the species involved. Within the western Palaearctic region, the main suspected vector species, C. obsoletus, C. scoticus, C. dewulfi and C. chiopterus, have similar wing patterns, which makes it difficult to separate and identify them correctly. Methods In this study, designed as an inter-laboratory ring trial with twelve partners from Europe and North Africa, we assess four PCR-based assays which are used routinely to differentiate the four species of Culicoides listed above. The assays based on mitochondrial or ribosomal DNA or microarray hybridisation were tested using aliquots of Culicoides DNA (extracted using commercial kits), crude lysates of ground specimens and whole Culicoides (265 individuals), and non-Culicoides Ceratopogonidae (13 individuals) collected from across Europe. Results A total of 800 molecular assays were implemented. The in-house assays functioned effectively, although specificity and sensitivity varied according to the molecular marker and DNA extraction method used. The Obsoletus group specificity was overall high (95-99%) while the sensitivity varied greatly (59.6-100%). DNA extraction methods impacted the sensitivity of the assays as well as the type of sample used as template for the DNA extraction. Conclusions The results are discussed in terms of current use of species diagnostic assays and the future development of molecular tools for the rapid differentiation of cryptic Culicoides species.
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van der Meide NMA, Savelkoul HFJ, Meulenbroeks C, Ducro BJ, Tijhaar E. Evaluation of a diagnostic ELISA for insect bite hypersensitivity in horses using recombinant Obsoletus complex allergens. Vet J 2013; 200:31-7. [PMID: 24703873 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Culicoides spp. of the Obsoletus complex belong to the most important species of midge, involved in causing insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in horses in The Netherlands. The aim of the current study was to evaluate seven different Obsoletus complex-derived recombinant allergens (Cul o 1-Cul o 7) and to compare these with Obsoletus complex whole body extract (WBE) in an IgE ELISA, using sera of 194 clinically-confirmed cases of IBH and 175 unaffected horses. The highest test accuracy was obtained with WBE, followed by Cul o 2, 3 and 5. Two ELISAs with a combination of recombinant allergens, Combi-1 (Cul o 3, 5 and 7) and Combi-2 (Cul o 1, 2, 5 and 7) were additionally performed and both resulted in high test accuracies close to that obtained with WBE. Combi-1 resulted in the best sensitivity and specificity, both 89%. Both Combi-1 and Combi-2 performed less well with samples collected in winter, but over 70% of the IBH-affected horses could still be identified. In conclusion, a combination of three Obsoletus complex recombinant allergens (Cul o 3, 5 and 7) could potentially replace Obsoletus complex WBE in an IgE ELISA for diagnosis of IBH in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie M A van der Meide
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Huub F J Savelkoul
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal Meulenbroeks
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bart J Ducro
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Edwin Tijhaar
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Hajd Henni L, Sauvage F, Ninio C, Depaquit J, Augot D. Wing geometry as a tool for discrimination of Obsoletus group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) in France. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 21:110-7. [PMID: 24514019 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2013] [Revised: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In Europe, Culicoides chiopterus, Culicoides dewulfi, Culicoides obsoletus and Culicoides scoticus, which belongs to the subgenus Avaritia and Obsoletus group are the most proficient Bluetongue and Schmallenberg vectors. Within this group, correct identification based on morphological traits is difficult but essential to assess disease transmission risk. The development of new tools has revolutionized taxonomy (i.e. geometric morphometrics and molecular biology). Wing morphology is of primary importance to entomologists interested in systematics. Here, we report phenotypic differentiation patterns among the species above mentioned using a landmark-based geometric morphometric approach that efficiently identified C. chiopterus and C. dewulfi. Wing shape of the C. scoticus sample exhibited large specific variability. Based on landmarks and phylogenetic analyses (Maximum Parsimony), we suggest that Obsoletus group in Europe includes only C. obsoletus and C. scoticus. C. dewulfi and C. chiopterus are clearly excluded. Their shape seems closer to C. obsoletus that is why we suggest that only these two species should be grouped in the Obsoletus group. In addition, the concordance between phenetic clusters and phylogenies inferred from molecular data based on a fragment of the mtDNA COI gene and rDNA 28S suggests the existence of a strong signal in wing shape. These findings encourage us to use this powerful tool in taxonomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Hajd Henni
- Usc-VECPAR, ANSES-LSA, EA 4688, SFR Cap Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, F-51100 Reims, France
| | - F Sauvage
- Université de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France; Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - C Ninio
- Usc-VECPAR, ANSES-LSA, EA 4688, SFR Cap Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, F-51100 Reims, France
| | - J Depaquit
- Usc-VECPAR, ANSES-LSA, EA 4688, SFR Cap Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, F-51100 Reims, France
| | - D Augot
- Usc-VECPAR, ANSES-LSA, EA 4688, SFR Cap Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, F-51100 Reims, France.
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Viennet E, Garros C, Gardès L, Rakotoarivony I, Allène X, Lancelot R, Crochet D, Moulia C, Baldet T, Balenghien T. Host preferences of Palaearctic Culicoides biting midges: implications for transmission of orbiviruses. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2013; 27:255-266. [PMID: 22985009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2012.01042.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Feeding success depends on host availability, host defensive reactions and host preferences. Host choice is a critical determinant of the intensity at which pathogens are transmitted. The aim of the current study was to describe host preferences of Palaearctic Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Latreille using traps baited with the five different host species of poultry, horse, cattle, sheep and goat. Collections were carried out nightly in July and August 2009 in western France with three replicates of a 5 × 5 randomized Latin square (five sites, five hosts). Moreover, an ultraviolet (UV) light/suction trap was operated during host-baited collections to correlate Culicoides biting rates and UV light/suction trap catches. A total of 660 Culicoides belonging to 12 species, but comprised mainly of Culicoides scoticus Downes and Kettle, Culicoides dewulfi Goetghebuer and Culicoides obsoletus Meigen, were collected on animal baits. Abundance was highest for the horse, which accounted for 95% of all Culicoides caught, representing 10 species. The horse, the largest bait, was the most attractive host, even when abundance data were corrected by weight, body surface or Kleiber's scaling factor. Culicoides obsoletus was the only dominant species attracted by birds. Both C. scoticus and C. dewulfi were collected mainly from the upper body of the horse. Finally, the quantification of host preferences allows for discussion of implications for the transmission of Culicoides-borne pathogens such as bluetongue virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Viennet
- UMR Contrôle des Maladies, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Montpellier, France
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21
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Kaufmann C, Steinmann IC, Hegglin D, Schaffner F, Mathis A. Spatio-temporal occurrence of Culicoides biting midges in the climatic regions of Switzerland, along with large scale species identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:246. [PMID: 23111100 PMCID: PMC3503604 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Culicoides biting midges are incriminated as biological vectors of a number of viruses, e.g. bluetongue virus. In order to define vector-free periods/areas and to assess the vectorial role of the various Culicoides species, a comprehensive knowledge on their spatio-temporal occurrence is required. Methods Biting midges were monitored on farm sites with livestock in the defined climatic regions, including high altitudes, of Switzerland by overnight trapping at 12 locations once a week over three years using UV-light traps. Based on morphological features, they were separated into three groups (i.e. Obsoletus, Pulicaris, other Culicoides spp.), and identification to the species level was achieved by protein profiling using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Results Around 550,000 biting midges in total were collected, revealing a dominance (82 to 99%) of the Obsoletus group species up to an altitude of 1,200 m and of the Pulicaris group species above 1,500 m (85% at the highest trapping site at 2,130 m). The maximum number of midges collected in a summer night (756 to 19,682) as well as the total number of midges caught over three years (from 6,933 to 149,439) varied highly among the sites, whereas the annual variation in total midge abundance at the locations was statistically insignificant. MALDI-TOF MS of 100 randomly selected individual biting midges per trapping site yielded high quality spectra for 1,187 of the 1,200 (98.9%) specimens of which 1,173 could be assigned to one of the 15 Culicoides species for which biomarker mass sets are available in the reference database. Conclusions There are no biting midge-free zones in all of the agriculturally utilized areas (including alpine summer pastures) of Switzerland. Annual variations of midge numbers at the sampled locations were low, indicating that monitoring of midges should preferably be done by investigating a large number of sites for one season instead of few locations for extended periods of time. High throughput species identification of midges by MALDI-TOF MS is feasible, and this technique adds to other recently developed methods for the identification of midges (PCRs in various formats, interactive identification keys), facilitating epidemiological and biological in-depth studies of these important insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kaufmann
- Vector Entomology Unit, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich 8057, Switzerland.
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Lehmann K, Werner D, Hoffmann B, Kampen H. PCR identification of culicoid biting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) of the Obsoletus complex including putative vectors of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:213. [PMID: 23013614 PMCID: PMC3508804 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2012] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biting midges of the Obsoletus species complex of the ceratopogonid genus Culicoides were assumed to be the major vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV) in northern and central Europe during the 2006 outbreak of bluetongue disease (BT). Most recently, field specimens of the same group of species have also been shown to be infected with the newly emerged Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in Europe. A reliable identification of the cryptic species of this group is fundamental for both understanding the epidemiology of the diseases and for targeted vector control. In the absence of classical morphological characters unambiguously identifying the species, DNA sequence-based tests have been established for the distinction of selected species in some parts of Europe. Since specificity and sensitivity of these tests have been shown to be in need of improvement, an alternative PCR assay targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was developed for the identification of the three Obsoletus complex species endemic to Germany (C. obsoletus, C. scoticus, C. chiopterus) plus the isomorphic species C. dewulfi. METHODS Biting midges of the genus Culicoides caught by UV light traps all over Germany were morphologically pre-identified to species or complex level. The COI region was amplified from their extracted DNA and sequenced. Final species assignment was done by sequence comparison to GenBank entries and to morphologically identified males. Species-specific consensus sequences were aligned and polymorphisms were utilized to design species-specific primers to PCR-identify specimens when combined with a universal primer. RESULTS The newly developed multiplex PCR assay was successfully tested on genetically defined Obsoletus complex material as well as on morphologically pre-identified field material. The intended major advantage of the assay as compared to other PCR approaches, namely the production of only one single characteristic band for each species, could be realized with high specificity and sensitivity. CONCLUSION To elucidate the biological characteristics of potential vectors of disease agents, such as ecology, behaviour and vector competence, and the role of these haematophagous arthropods in the epidemiology of the diseases, simple, cost-effective and, most importantly, reliable identification techniques are necessary. The PCR assay presented will help to identify culicoid vector species and therefore add to bluetongue and Schmallenberg disease research including vector control and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Lehmann
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
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23
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Purse BV, Falconer D, Sullivan MJ, Carpenter S, Mellor PS, Piertney SB, Mordue Luntz AJ, Albon S, Gunn GJ, Blackwell A. Impacts of climate, host and landscape factors on Culicoides species in Scotland. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2012; 26:168-177. [PMID: 22103842 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2011.00991.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) vector a wide variety of internationally important arboviral pathogens of livestock and represent a widespread biting nuisance. This study investigated the influence of landscape, host and remotely-sensed climate factors on local abundance of livestock-associated species in Scotland, within a hierarchical generalized linear model framework. The Culicoides obsoletus group and the Culicoides pulicaris group accounted for 56% and 41%, respectively, of adult females trapped. Culicoides impunctatus Goetghebuer and C. pulicaris s.s. Linnaeus were the most abundant and widespread species in the C. pulicaris group (accounting for 29% and 10%, respectively, of females trapped). Abundance models performed well for C. impunctatus, Culicoides deltus Edwards and Culicoides punctatus Meigen (adjusted R(2) : 0.59-0.70), but not for C. pulicaris s.s. (adjusted R(2) : 0.36) and the C. obsoletus group (adjusted R(2) : 0.08). Local-scale abundance patterns were best explained by models combining host, landscape and climate factors. The abundance of C. impunctatus was negatively associated with cattle density, but positively associated with pasture cover, consistent with this species' preference in the larval stage for lightly grazed, wet rush pasture. Predicted abundances of this species varied widely among farms even over short distances (less than a few km). Modelling approaches that may facilitate the more accurate prediction of local abundance patterns for a wider range of Culicoides species are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- B V Purse
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Penicuik, U.K.
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24
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Identification of field-caught Culicoides biting midges using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Parasitology 2011; 139:248-58. [PMID: 22008297 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182011001764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Culicoides 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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Nielsen SA, Kristensen M. Morphological and molecular identification of species of the Obsoletus group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Scandinavia. Parasitol Res 2011; 109:1133-41. [PMID: 21461726 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2357-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2011] [Accepted: 03/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
After the introduction of bluetongue in northern Europe in 2006, populations of Culicoides have been monitored in many European countries. Large quantities of Culicoides specimens shall be determined to species, and it is thus important to find reliable morphological characters that are visualized in a stereomicroscope. Culicoides obsoletus, Culicoides scoticus, Culicoides chiopterus, and Culicoides dewulfi all belonging to subgenus Avaritia are common in collections in northern Europe. C. obsoletus and C. scoticus often make up more than 50% of the total catch of biting midges. Separation of the females of the four species by morphological characters has frequently been questioned, and in many cases, female specimens are grouped as an entity in veterinary and ecological studies. We show how it is possible using a stereomicroscope to separate the females of the four species by combining the shape of the third segment of the maxillary palp and the number and location of hairs on the first abdominal tergit. Validation of the quick stereomicroscope identification method was achieved by morphometric measurements and a molecular marker. In all cases, both methods verified the quick morphological species identification of the Obsoletus group females. In conclusion, the females of all four species of the Obsoletus group can be separated by a quick morphological method under the stereomicroscope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Søren Achim Nielsen
- Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, Building 18.1, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
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Pili E, Carcangiu L, Oppo M, Marchi A. Genetic structure and population dynamics of the biting midges Culicoides obsoletus and Culicoides scoticus: implications for the transmission and maintenance of bluetongue. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2010; 24:441-448. [PMID: 20572933 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00887.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Culicoides species belonging to the Obsoletus complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been indicated as primary bluetongue (BT) vectors in many European countries and their possible involvement in the maintenance and overwintering of BT viruses has been suggested, even in regions where Culicoides imicola Keiffer is the main vector. The Obsoletus complex includes two predominant taxa, Culicoides obsoletus (Meigen) and Culicoides scoticus Downes & Kettle. However, the role played by each species in the epidemiology of BT is still unknown. Taxonomic identification is mainly based on the morphology of male genitalia and the lack of other reliable diagnostic features makes the screening of trap-collected vector populations, mainly females, particularly difficult. Although molecular markers have facilitated species identification, little information is yet available on the biology, abundance and population dynamics of the two taxa. The aim of this work was to investigate the genetic profile and temporal distribution of C. obsoletus and C. scoticus by using isozyme electrophoresis applied to adult midges, collected weekly at two selected farms in southern Sardinia. A total of nine enzyme loci were analysed and five of them provided diagnostic allozyme markers (Hk, Mdh, Pgi, Idh-1 and Idh-2). Nei's genetic distance between the two taxa was in the range of other well-separated taxa (D = 1.792), supporting their status as true species. Culicoides scoticus represented almost 61% of the 562 specimens analysed; its genetic structure was characterized by a very low level of intra-population variation (mean heterozygosity H(e) = 0.019) and higher genetic divergence between populations (F(ST) = 0.0016) than in C. obsoletus. The latter species had significantly more heterozygotes (H(e) = 0.123), a higher percentage of polymorphic loci, and no inter-population differentiation (F(ST) ≅ 0). We suggest that different biological and ecological constraints, such as breeding habitat requirements, may contribute to shaping the genetic profiles of C. scoticus and C. obsoletus. However, enough gene flow was maintained between populations of each species as no spatial and temporal structuring was sustained by Fisher's exact probability test (P > 0.5). The seasonal distributions of C. scoticus and C. obsoletus only partially overlapped: both species were mainly found early in the year, when the main vector, C. imicola, was present in low numbers, and peaked in abundance in April and May. Culicoides scoticus was predominant until May, decreased rapidly in the following months and increased again in winter, whereas C. obsoletus decreased more slowly and was still present in early summer. Consequently, C. scoticus may be a good candidate for playing a role in the transmission and maintenance of BT virus in Sardinia, as well as in other Mediterranean countries, during the months of late winter and early spring when the seroconversion of sentinel animals is still occurring in the absence of the main vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Pili
- Sezione di Genetica, Dipartimento di Biologia Sperimentale, Università di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Garros C, Mathieu B, Balenghien T, Cêtre-Sossah C, Delécolle JC. Suggesting synonymies? Comments on Kiehl et al. (2009) "the European vectors of Bluetongue virus: are there species complexes, single species or races in Culicoides obsoletus and C. pulicaris detectable by sequencing ITS-1, ITS-2 and 18S-rDNA?". Parasitol Res 2010; 107:731-4. [PMID: 20512587 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-1921-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2010] [Accepted: 05/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Species recognition and identification are crucial in any biological studies, especially when dealing with insect species involved in pathogen transmission. In recent years, molecular approaches have helped the clarification of systematic schemes and taxonomic status. Kiehl et al. (Parasitol Res 105:331-336, 2009) used molecular data to discuss the taxonomic status of biting midge species in the Palaearctic region. In the present work, the statements that "[Thus] there is no molecular support for the existence of a separate species C. montanus" and "[Therefore] probably C. scoticus should be considered only as a race of C. obsoletus" are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Garros
- UMR CMAEE CIRAD-INRA, Contrôle des maladies animales exotiques et émergentes, Campus International de Baillarguet TA-A15/A, bureau A210, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
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Schwenkenbecher JM, Mordue AJ, Switek K, Piertney SB. Discrimination of Culicoides midge larvae using multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays based on DNA sequence variation at the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase I gene. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2009; 46:610-614. [PMID: 19496434 DOI: 10.1603/033.046.0328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The recent spread of Bluetongue disease in northwestern Europe has indicated the ability of Palaearctic Culicoides species to vector the disease. Because the different midge species vary in their ability to harbor and transmit the Bluetongue virus, quick and reliable identification is necessary to resolve the species composition of midge communities, both adult and larval, at any place at any given time point. Given that morphological identification of Culicoides species is problematic, we developed three multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays that facilitate high-throughput analysis of midge specimens. One assay distinguishes between species of the so-called Culicoides obsoletus s.l. complex (including C. dewulfi), whereas two assays facilitate differentiation of species of the Culicoides pulicaris s.l. complex. These assays yield two PCR products: one species-specific and one generic band. We show the application of the assays in the analysis of Culicoides larvae from three different farms in northeast Scotland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan M Schwenkenbecher
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, United Kingdom.
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Balczun C, Vorsprach B, Meiser CK, Schaub GA. Changes of the abundance of Culicoides obsoletus s.s. and Culicoides scoticus in Southwest Germany identified by a PCR-based differentiation. Parasitol Res 2009; 105:345-9. [PMID: 19319570 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-009-1412-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2009] [Accepted: 03/11/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of bluetongue disease in Central Europe necessitates new approaches in the identification of vectors to follow-up changes of populations of species and not of complexes. Since females of species of the complex of Culicoides obsoletus are difficult to be identified according to morphological criteria, we applied a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based strategy targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I to differentiate between the species Culicoides obsoletus s.s. and Culicoides scoticus. Catches of culicoids obtained from May to November 2007 in an ultraviolet lamp trap at a cattle farm in Rhineland-Palatinate, Southern Germany were surveyed for changes of the abundance of both species. Only in May 2007, the samples contained similar proportions of both species. Afterwards, C. scoticus dominated with up to 88%. Calculating the number of specimens of both species within the total catches of culicoids, the numbers of C. obsoletus s.s. slightly decreased from May to July and increased to a little maximum in August. C. scoticus seemed to have three maxima in this period of time, the strongest one in August, presumably due to different generations and not to climatic conditions. These results indicate that the applied PCR strategy can be used for a detailed analysis of culicoids as basis for the estimation of the transmission risk of the bluetongue virus by different species of the Obsoletus complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Balczun
- Zoology/Parasitology Group, Ruhr-University, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
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