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Zhang X, Phillips RA, Gerry AC. Morphological and Molecular Identification of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Species of the Southern California Desert. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1589-1600. [PMID: 35833355 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges are vectors of important animal pathogens including bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). While some Culicoides species present in the southern California desert are implicated in the transmission of these viruses to ruminant animals, these species have not been extensively studied due in part to the challenge of identifying Culicoides to species and to the lack of published gene sequences for these species to support their molecular identification. In this study, Culicoides were captured using suction traps baited with either carbon dioxide or UV light from transitional habitat between the southern California peninsular mountain ranges and the Colorado desert of southeastern California. Captured midges were initially identified using traditional morphological methods, with species identification subsequently confirmed by sequence analysis of COI and 28S rDNA genes. Phylogenetic analyses support that some Culicoides subgenera are not monophyletic. Two recognized species (C. sitiens Wirth and Hubert and C. bakeri Vargas) shared the same COI and 28S sequences. An additional cryptic species may be present within C. sitiens. Two additional recognized species (C. cacticola Wirth and Hubert and C. torridus Wirth and Hubert) may be conspecific or cryptic to each other. In total, 19 Culicoides species (or species aggregate) were collected in this study, with genetic sequences published for the first time for 16 of them. Published genetic sequences will support future research on these species, including studies on the ecology and habits of their immature stages which are often tedious to identify using morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmi Zhang
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | | | - Alec C Gerry
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
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Morphological and molecular differentiation between Culicoides oxystoma and Culicoides kingi (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Tunisia. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:607. [PMID: 34922599 PMCID: PMC8684274 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05084-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Culicoides kingi and Culicoides oxystoma belong to the Schultzei group of biting midges. These two species are vectors of disease in livestock of economic importance. As described in the literature, morphological identification for discrimination between them is still unclear. However, species-specific identification is necessary to solve taxonomic challenges between species and to understand their roles in disease transmission and epidemiology. This study aims to develop accurate tools to discriminate C. oxystoma from C. kingi using traditional morphometry and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR RFLP) assays for use in developing countries. Methods Specimens were collected from the region of Kairouan in central Tunisia. A total of 446 C. oxystoma/C. kingi individuals were identified using traditional morphometric analyses combined with PCR–RFLP of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Thirteen morphometric measurements were performed from the head, wings, and abdomen of slide-mounted specimens, and six ratios were calculated between these measurements. Multivariate analyses of the morphometric measurements were explored to identify which variables could lead to accurate species identification. Results Four variables, namely antennae, wings, spermathecae, and palpus length, were suitable morphometric characteristics to differentiate between the species. Digestion with the SspI restriction enzyme of the PCR product led to good discriminative ability. Molecular procedures and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the efficiency of this simple and rapid PCR–RFLP method. Conclusions This study highlights for the first time in Tunisia the presence of C. oxystoma and its discrimination from C. kingi using abdominal measurements and the PCR–RFLP method. This approach could be applied in future epidemiological studies at the national and international levels. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-05084-8.
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Braverman Y, Chizov-Ginzburg A, Eldor H, Mumcuoglu KY. Overview and features of larval developmental sites of biting midges species associated with livestock in Israel with implications to their control. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2018; 14:204-211. [PMID: 31014731 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The larval developmental sites of Culicoides species were assessed from 1155 samples collected during the years 1969-2003. Culicoides circumscriptus was most prolific in mud with medium organic matter with proportional representation of 55.8%. Culicoides imicola breeds mainly in damp mixture of rotten, decomposed animal dung with or without some mud, with proportional representation of 97.2%. Culicoides obsoletus was found mostly in rotten banana stumps, with proportional representation of almost 100%. Culicoides puncticollis was found in mud with a medium amount of organic matter with proportional representation of 35.6%. Culicoides distinctipennis showed 22.2% proportional representation for mud poor in organic matter. Culicoides schultzei gr. was most prolifically in mud rich in organic matter with proportional representation of 6.2%. Culicoides cataneii was most prolifically in mud with a medium amount of organic matter with proportional representation of 1.8%. Maximum duration time to emergence from the larval developmental sites ranged from seven weeks in C. obsoletus to fourteen weeks in C. circumscriptus and nine weeks in C. imicola. All the studied species breed throughout the year. Significant innate differences in the proportions of the sexes were found in the emergence of six species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Braverman
- Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel.
| | | | - H Eldor
- Yoshpe Street 13, Hod Ha'Sharon, Israel
| | - K Y Mumcuoglu
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical School, The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Jerusalem, Israel
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Talavera S, Muñoz-Muñoz F, Verdún M, Pujol N, Pagès N. Revealing potential bridge vectors for BTV and SBV: a study on Culicoides blood feeding preferences in natural ecosystems in Spain. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 32:35-40. [PMID: 28857265 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Several species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of pathogens, such as the bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg (SBV) viruses, which cause important diseases in domestic and wild ruminants. As wild ruminants can contribute to overwintering and epizootics of both diseases, knowledge of the host-feeding behaviour of Culicoides in natural ecosystems is important to better understand their epidemiology. Blood-engorged Culicoides females trapped in natural areas inhabited by different wild ruminant species were genetically analysed to identify host species. The origin of bloodmeals was identified in 114 females of 14 species of Culicoides. A total of 104 (91.1%) Culicoides fed on mammals and 10 (8.9%) on birds. The most abundant host identified was red deer (66.7%), followed by humans (13%) and fallow deer (6.1%). Eleven of the 14 species of Culicoides fed exclusively on mammalian hosts. Among them, five are mammalophilic species considered to be important BTV and/or SBV vectors. The results of the present study confirm that Culicoides imicola, Culicoides obsoletus, Culicoides scoticus, Culicoides pulicaris and Culicoides punctatus fed on wild ruminants, and therefore support the hypothesis that these species can act as bridge vectors by facilitating the circulation of pathogens between wild and domestic ruminant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Talavera
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - F Muñoz-Muñoz
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - M Verdún
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - N Pujol
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - N Pagès
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
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Tay WT, Kerr PJ, Jermiin LS. Population Genetic Structure and Potential Incursion Pathways of the Bluetongue Virus Vector Culicoides brevitarsis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Australia. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0146699. [PMID: 26771743 PMCID: PMC4714883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Culicoides brevitarsis is a vector of the bluetongue virus (BTV), which infects sheep and cattle. It is an invasive species in Australia with an assumed Asian/South East Asian origin. Using one mitochondrial marker (i.e., part of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene) and six nuclear markers, we inferred population genetic structure and possible incursion pathways for Australian C. brevitarsis. Nine mitochondrial haplotypes, with low nucleotide sequence diversity (0.0-0.7%) among these, were identified in a sample of 70 individuals from seven sites. Both sets of markers revealed a homogeneous population structure, albeit with evidence of isolation by distance and two genetically distinct clusters distributed along a north-to-south cline. No evidence of a cryptic species complex was found. The geographical distribution of the mitochondrial haplotypes is consistent with at least two incursion pathways into Australia since the arrival of suitable livestock hosts. By contrast, 15 mitochondrial haplotypes, with up to four times greater nucleotide sequence diversity (0.0-2.9%) among these, were identified in a sample of 16 individuals of the endemic C. marksi (sampled from a site in South Australia and another in New South Wales). A phylogenetic tree inferred using the mitochondrial marker revealed that the Australian and Japanese samples of C. brevitarsis are as evolutionarily different from one another as some of the other Australian species (e.g., C. marksi, C. henryi, C. pallidothorax) are. The phylogenetic tree placed four of the species endemic to Australia (C. pallidothorax, C. bundyensis, C. marksi, C. henryi) in a clade, with a fifth such species (C. bunrooensis) sharing a common ancestor with that clade and a clade comprising two Japanese species (C. verbosus, C. kibunensis).
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Affiliation(s)
- W. T. Tay
- CSIRO, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - P. J. Kerr
- CSIRO, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia
| | - L. S. Jermiin
- CSIRO, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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Nielsen SA, Kristensen M, Pape T. Three new Scandinavian species of Culicoides (Culicoides): Culicoides boyi sp. nov., Culicoides selandicus sp. nov. and Culicoides kalix sp. nov. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Biodivers Data J 2015:e5823. [PMID: 26696760 PMCID: PMC4678805 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.3.e5823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In the context of a major monitoring program of Culicoides in Denmark and Sweden due to the appearance of bluetongue disease in 2007–2008, a large number of specimens were collected by light traps and sorted morphologically, with COI barcodes generated for selected specimens. New information Three species are described as new to science based on both morphological and molecular data: Culicoides (Culicoides) boyisp. nov. (Denmark: Jutland), C. (C.) selandicussp. nov. (Denmark: Zealand) and C. (C.) kalixsp. nov. (Sweden: Norrbotten). All are diagnosed morphologically as well as by molecular barcoding. A key to slide-mounted females of all Scandinavian species of Culicoides (Culicoides) is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Søren Achim Nielsen
- Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Michael Kristensen
- Department of Agroecology - Entomology and Plant Pathology, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Thomas Pape
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Sánchez Murillo JM, González M, Martínez Díaz MM, Reyes Galán A, Alarcón-Elbal PM. Primera cita de Culicoides paradoxalis Ramilo & Delécolle, 2013 (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) en España. GRAELLSIA 2015. [DOI: 10.3989/graellsia.2015.v71.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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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: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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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Stur E, Borkent A. When DNA barcoding and morphology mesh: Ceratopogonidae diversity in Finnmark, Norway. Zookeys 2014:95-131. [PMID: 25589864 PMCID: PMC4294303 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.463.7964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA barcoding in Ceratopogonidae has been restricted to interpreting the medically and veterinary important members of Culicoides Latreille. Here the technique is utilised, together with morphological study, to interpret all members of the family in a select area. Limited sampling from the county of Finnmark in northernmost Norway indicated the presence of 54 species, including 14 likely new to science, 16 new to Norway, and one new to Europe. No species were previously recorded from this county. Only 93 species were known for all of Norway before this survey, indicating how poorly studied the group is. We evaluate and discuss morphological characters commonly used in identification of biting midges and relate species diagnoses to released DNA barcode data from 223 specimens forming 58 barcode clusters in our dataset. DNA barcodes and morphology were congruent for all species, except in three morphological species where highly divergent barcode clusters indicate the possible presence of cryptic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Stur
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU University Museum, Department of Natural History, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Art Borkent
- Art Borkent, Research Associate of the Royal British Columbia Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, 691-8th Ave. SE, Salmon Arm, British Columbia, V1E 2C2, Canada
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Biting midges monitoring (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides Latreille) in the governate of Monastir (Tunisia): species composition and molecular investigations. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:2435-43. [PMID: 24825311 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3873-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The results of entomological studies carried out in the governate of Monastir (Tunisia) in 2009-2010 (captures and emergences from muds) focusing on Culicoides species are presented in the present study. Identification of Culicoides at the species level is based on morphological characters, and a molecular study has been carried out based on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome C oxidase I gene (COI) and D1 and D2 domains of the 28S rDNA. The DNA sequences reported here are related to 10 species (on 25 known) of Culicoides described in Tunisia: Culicoides cataneii-gejgelensis, Culicoides circumscriptus, Culicoides imicola, Culicoides jumineri, Culicoides kingi, Culicoides langeroni, Culicoides newsteadi, Culicoides paolae, Culicoides puncticollis and Culicoides sahariensis. DNA sequencing of the COI gene and D1D2 domains discriminated all morphologically determined species. The choice of D1D2 domains considered as a conserved region is informative for Culicoides species identification. The molecular analyses of COI has grouped both C. circumscriptus, C. puncticollis within two clusters and C. newsteadi within five subclusters. However, C. newsteadi shows relatively deep intraspecific divergence using COI sequences.
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