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Bibard A, Martinetti D, Giraud A, Picado A, Chalvet-Monfray K, Porphyre T. Quantitative risk assessment for the introduction of bluetongue virus into mainland Europe by long-distance wind dispersal of Culicoides spp.: A case study from Sardinia. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2024. [PMID: 38955987 DOI: 10.1111/risa.14345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Europe faces regular introductions and reintroductions of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes, most recently exemplified by the incursion of serotype 3 in the Netherlands. Although the long-distance wind dispersal of the disease vector, Culicoides spp., is recognized as a virus introduction pathway, it remains understudied in risk assessments. A Quantitative Risk Assessment framework was developed to estimate the risk of BTV-3 incursion into mainland Europe from Sardinia, where the virus has been present since 2018. We used an atmospheric transport model (HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) to infer the probability of airborne dispersion of the insect vector. Epidemiological disease parameters quantified the virus prevalence in vector population in Sardinia and its potential first transmission after introduction in a new area. When assuming a 24h maximal flight duration, the risk of BTV introduction from Sardinia is limited to the Mediterranean Basin, mainly affecting the southwestern area of the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Malta, and Corsica. The risk extends to the northern and central parts of Italy, Balearic archipelago, and mainland France and Spain, mostly when maximal flight duration is longer than 24h. Additional knowledge on vector flight conditions and Obsoletus complex-specific parameters could improve the robustness of the model. Providing both spatial and temporal insights into BTV introduction risks, our framework is a key tool to guide global surveillance and preparedness against epizootics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Bibard
- Global Innovation, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France, Saint-Priest, France
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, UMR 5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, Villeurbanne, France
- Epidémiologie Des Maladies Animales et Zoonotiques, UMR EPIA, Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Davide Martinetti
- Biostatistique et Processus Spatiaux, UMR 0546, INRAE, Avignon, France
| | - Aymeric Giraud
- Biostatistique et Processus Spatiaux, UMR 0546, INRAE, Avignon, France
| | - Albert Picado
- Global Innovation, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France, Saint-Priest, France
| | - Karine Chalvet-Monfray
- Epidémiologie Des Maladies Animales et Zoonotiques, UMR EPIA, Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Thibaud Porphyre
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, UMR 5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, Villeurbanne, France
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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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Daif S, El Berbri I, Fassi Fihri O. First molecular evidence of potential Culicoides vectors implicated in bluetongue virus transmission in Morocco. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:71. [PMID: 38374115 PMCID: PMC10877861 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06167-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bluetongue is a non-contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild ruminants. It is transmitted primarily by small hematophagous Diptera belonging to the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). The current study represents the first molecular investigation into the potential role of Culicoides imicola, Culicoides paolae, Culicoides newsteadi, Culicoides spp., and Culicoides circumscriptus as bluetongue virus (BTV) vectors in Morocco. Additionally, the study aimed to evaluate the vectorial activity of midges during the survey seasons. METHODS Parous females of these species were captured from several regions of Morocco (6 out of 12) from 2018 to 2021 using Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) traps. A total of 2003 parous female specimens were grouped into 55 batches. The midge body of each batch was dissected into three regions (head, thorax, and abdomen), and these regions were analyzed separately using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS BTV RNA was detected in 45 out of the 55 batches tested, indicating a positivity rate of 81.8%. The RT-qPCR-positive pools of the studied Culicoides species exhibited high levels of BTV positivity in each body part (head, thorax, and abdomen), confirming the successful replication of the virus within midge bodies. The BTV circulation was substantial across all three survey seasons (spring, summer, and autumn). High infection rates, calculated using the minimum infection rate (MIR) and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), were observed during the collection seasons, particularly in autumn and spring, and for all investigated Culicoides species, most notably for C. imicola and C. newsteadi. These increased infection rates underscore the significant risk of Culicoides transmitting the BTV in Morocco. CONCLUSIONS The detection of BTV positivity in Culicoides spp. (lacking wing spots that allow their differentiation according to morphological identification keys) suggested that other Culicoides species are competent for BTV transmission in Morocco. The study results indicated, for the first time at the molecular level, that C. imicola and C. newsteadi are the primary potential vectors of BTV in Morocco and that C. paolae and C. circumscriptus are strongly implicated in the propagation of bluetongue at the national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soukaina Daif
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco.
| | - Ikhlass El Berbri
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Ouafaa Fassi Fihri
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Public Health, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco
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Bravo-Barriga D, González MA, Parreira R, Frontera E, Huerta H, Alarcón-Elbal PM. Shedding light on the controversial taxonomic status of Culicoides jamaicensis and Culicoides paolae (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae): an overseas trip among continents. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:944-954. [PMID: 37335073 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad062] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are small bloodsucking flies that act as vectors for various pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. This study aimed to examine, using a comprehensive approach, the controversial taxonomic status of 2 Culicoides species that are currently distributed in the Neotropical (Culicoides jamaicensis Edwards) and Palearctic (Culicoides paolae Boorman) areas and possess unique and distinctive features. Previous investigations based on morphological analysis have suggested that these 2 species may be synonyms. Our work updated the current geographical distribution of both species and analyzed new specimens from different geographic origins, together with publicly available sequences. We used 2 universal genetic markers (COI and 28S) to test this hypothesis. Our study reveals evidence that C. paolae and C. jamaicensis belong to the same species due to the following statements: (i) similar morphological features; (ii) low interspecific genetic variation; (iii) association with a single genetic cluster; (iv) inclusion within the subgenus Drymodesmyia, which has only been recorded in the New World; and (v) occurrence in habitats with moderate temperatures. We recommend that European and African specimens of C. paolae be considered from now on as C. jamaicensis. Our comprehensive approach shed new light on the taxonomic status of these 2 Culicoides species and has implications for future studies on their biology and ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (Uex), 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | | | - Ricardo Parreira
- Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT) - NOVA University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Eva Frontera
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (Uex), 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - Herón Huerta
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, 01480 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal
- Laboratorio de investigación de Entomología, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Bloque B, Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjasot, Spain
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Groschupp S, Kampen H, Werner D. Occurrence of putative Culicoides biting midge vectors (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) inside and outside barns in Germany and factors influencing their activity. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:307. [PMID: 37653421 PMCID: PMC10472570 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05920-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After several years without bluetongue disease, a ruminant illness caused by Culicoides-borne bluetongue virus (BTV), two new autochthonous cases were reported in 2018 in Germany. By contrast, Schmallenberg virus (SBV), another Culicoides-borne virus pathogenic to ruminants, has continuously circulated in Germany since its first emergence in 2011. The disease outbreaks have triggered numerous studies on the biology of the Culicoides vectors, but many ecological details are still obscure. METHODS Culicoides biting midge species were collected with UV-light traps on 10 farms in Germany, with one trap inside and one trap outside barns on each of the farms. Traps were run once a week for 24 h from January to December 2019. Collected biting midges were morphologically identified, counted and statistically evaluated, with a focus on the Obsoletus Group and the Pulicaris Complex of the ceratopogonid genus Culicoides, which are believed to contain the major virus vectors. Temperature and relative humidity recorded at each trap were linked to the quantity of caught Culicoides. Correlations between relative Culicoides abundance and presence of livestock or type of husbandry were also investigated. RESULTS A total of 38,886 Culicoides biting midges were trapped, with most of them belonging to the Obsoletus Group (51.0%) and the Pulicaris Complex (38.8%). The majority of captured specimens were collected in traps inside the barns. Obsoletus Group individuals were caught from late January to the last week of December while Pulicaris Complex individuals were captured from the end of March to early December. The lowest average temperatures at which members of the two groups were collected were 10.7 °C and 12.8 °C, respectively. While temperature had a statistically significant effect on the activity of both the Obsoletus Group and the Pulicaris Complex, relative humidity only significantly affected the activity of the latter. The presence of livestock significantly influenced the number of captured Obsoletus Group, but not of Pulicaris Complex specimens. Inside the barns, no statistical difference was found between numbers of caught Obsoletus Group and Pulicaris Complex specimens in livestock holdings with deep litter and manure scraper or slatted floor husbandry systems. CONCLUSIONS The almost year-round presence of Obsoletus Group biting midges and the demonstrated high relative abundance of other potential Culicoides vector species inside barns suggest a high risk of indoor virus transmission to ruminants should BTV or SBV circulate locally. Appropriate structural, organisational and vector control measures to reduce biting midge exposure should be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Groschupp
- Research Area 2 “Landscape Use and Governance”, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut–Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Doreen Werner
- Research Area 2 “Landscape Use and Governance”, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
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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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Barceló C, Miranda MA. Development and lifespan of Culicoides obsoletus s.s. (Meigen) and other livestock-associated species reared at different temperatures under laboratory conditions. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 35:187-201. [PMID: 33103805 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) transmit arboviruses affecting wild and domestic ruminants such as bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV). The sub-adult development and lifespan of Culicoides obsoletus s.s. (Meigen), Culicoides circumscriptus Kieffer and Culicoides paolae Boorman were examined at three different temperatures under laboratory conditions. Insects were collected from field between spring and autumn 2015 in two livestock farms located in Majorca (Spain). Gravid females were held individually at 18, 25 or 30 °C. Low temperatures increased the adult lifespan, time to oviposit and rate of development, whereas high temperatures increased the number of eggs, successful pupation and adult emergence as well as the larvae growth rate. The results showed that C. obsoletus s.s. have optimum development at 18 °C, whereas the optimal rearing temperature for C. circumscriptus and C. paolae was under warmer conditions of 25-30 °C. Variations in temperature/humidity and assays with different materials and substrates for oviposition should be considered in future studies. Understanding the requirements of the different species of Culicoides optimizing the results should be of special interest for predicting environmental change effects on these species, in addition to determining the rearing conditions for candidate Culicoides vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Barceló
- Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - M A Miranda
- Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Aguilar-Vega C, Bosch J, Fernández-Carrión E, Lucientes J, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Identifying Spanish Areas at More Risk of Monthly BTV Transmission with a Basic Reproduction Number Approach. Viruses 2020; 12:E1158. [PMID: 33066209 PMCID: PMC7602074 DOI: 10.3390/v12101158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Bluetongue virus (BTV) causes a disease that is endemic in Spain and its two major biological vector species, C. imicola and the Obsoletus complex species, differ greatly in their ecology and distribution. Understanding the seasonality of BTV transmission in risk areas is key to improving surveillance and control programs, as well as to better understand the pathogen transmission networks between wildlife and livestock. Here, monthly risk transmission maps were generated using risk categories based on well-known BTV R0 equations and predicted abundances of the two most relevant vectors in Spain. Previously, Culicoides spp. predicted abundances in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands were obtained using remote sensing data and random forest machine learning algorithm. Risk transmission maps were externally assessed with the estimated date of infection of BTV-1 and BTV-4 historical outbreaks. Our results highlight the differences in risk transmission during April-October, June-August being the period with higher R0 values. Likewise, a natural barrier has been identified between northern and central-southern areas at risk that may hamper BTV spread between them. Our results can be relevant to implement risk-based interventions for the prevention, control and surveillance of BTV and other diseases shared between livestock and wildlife host populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Aguilar-Vega
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.B.); (E.F.-C.); (J.M.S.-V.)
| | - Jaime Bosch
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.B.); (E.F.-C.); (J.M.S.-V.)
| | - Eduardo Fernández-Carrión
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.B.); (E.F.-C.); (J.M.S.-V.)
| | - Javier Lucientes
- Department of Animal Pathology (Animal Health), AgriFood Institute of Aragón IA2, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain;
| | - José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.B.); (E.F.-C.); (J.M.S.-V.)
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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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Rocchigiani AM, Tilocca MG, Portanti O, Vodret B, Bechere R, Di Domenico M, Savini G, Lorusso A, Puggioni G. Development of a Digital RT-PCR Method for Absolute Quantification of Bluetongue Virus in Field Samples. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:170. [PMID: 32373633 PMCID: PMC7186476 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bluetongue (BT) is a major Office International des Epizooties (OIE)-listed disease of wild and domestic ruminants caused by several serotypes of Bluetongue virus (BTV), a virus with a segmented dsRNA genome belonging to the family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus. BTV is transmitted through the bites of Culicoides midges. The aim of this study was to develop a new method for quantification of BTV Seg-10 by droplet digital RT-PCR (RTdd-PCR), using nucleic acids purified from complex matrices such as blood, tissues, and midges, that notoriously contain strong PCR inhibitors. First, RTdd-PCR was optimized by using RNAs purified from serially 10-fold dilutions of a BTV-1 isolate (105.43TCID50/ml up to 10−0.57 TCID50/ml) and from the same dilutions spiked into fresh ovine EDTA-blood and spleen homogenate. The method showed a good degree of linearity (R2 ≥ 0.995). The limit of detection (LoD) and the limit of quantification (LoQ) established were 10−0.67TCID50/ml (0.72 copies/μl) and 100.03TCID50/ml (3.05 copies/μl) of BTV-1, respectively. Second, the newly developed test was compared, using the same set of biological samples, to the quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) detecting Seg-10 assay widely used for the molecular diagnosis of BTV from field samples. Results showed a difference mean of 0.30 log between the two assays with these samples (p < 0.05). Anyway, the analysis of correlation demonstrated that both assays provided similar measurements with a very close agreement between the systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Rocchigiani
- Department of Sanità Animale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Maria G Tilocca
- Department of Sanità Animale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Ottavio Portanti
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Bruna Vodret
- Department of Sanità Animale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Roberto Bechere
- Department of Sanità Animale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Di Domenico
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Alessio Lorusso
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giantonella Puggioni
- Department of Sanità Animale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
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11
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Rajko-Nenow P, Christodoulou V, Thurston W, Ropiak HM, Savva S, Brown H, Qureshi M, Alvanitopoulos K, Gubbins S, Flannery J, Batten C. Origin of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 8 Outbreak in Cyprus, September 2016. Viruses 2020; 12:E96. [PMID: 31947695 PMCID: PMC7019704 DOI: 10.3390/v12010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In September 2016, clinical signs, indicative of bluetongue, were observed in sheep in Cyprus. Bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) was detected in sheep, indicating the first incursion of this serotype into Cyprus. Following virus propagation, Nextera XT DNA libraries were sequenced on the MiSeq instrument. Full-genome sequences were obtained for five isolates CYP2016/01-05 and the percent of nucleotide sequence (% nt) identity between them ranged from 99.92% to 99.95%, which corresponded to a few (2-5) amino acid changes. Based on the complete coding sequence, the Israeli ISR2008/13 (98.42-98.45%) was recognised as the closest relative to CYP2016/01-05. However, the phylogenetic reconstruction of CYP2016/01-05 revealed that the possibility of reassortment in several segments: 4, 7, 9 and 10. Based on the available sequencing data, the incursion BTV-8 into Cyprus most likely occurred from the neighbouring countries (e.g., Israel, Lebanon, Syria, or Jordan), where multiple BTV serotypes were co-circulating rather than from Europe (e.g., France) where a single BTV-8 serotype was dominant. Supporting this hypothesis, atmospheric dispersion modelling identified wind-transport events during July-September that could have allowed the introduction of BTV-8 infected midges from Lebanon, Syria or Israel coastlines into the Larnaca region of Cyprus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Rajko-Nenow
- Pirbright Institute, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK (H.B.); (M.Q.); (S.G.); (J.F.); (C.B.)
| | | | | | - Honorata M. Ropiak
- Pirbright Institute, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK (H.B.); (M.Q.); (S.G.); (J.F.); (C.B.)
| | - Savvas Savva
- Veterinary Services of Cyprus, Nicosia 1417, Cyprus; (V.C.); (S.S.); (K.A.)
| | - Hannah Brown
- Pirbright Institute, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK (H.B.); (M.Q.); (S.G.); (J.F.); (C.B.)
| | - Mehnaz Qureshi
- Pirbright Institute, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK (H.B.); (M.Q.); (S.G.); (J.F.); (C.B.)
| | | | - Simon Gubbins
- Pirbright Institute, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK (H.B.); (M.Q.); (S.G.); (J.F.); (C.B.)
| | - John Flannery
- Pirbright Institute, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK (H.B.); (M.Q.); (S.G.); (J.F.); (C.B.)
| | - Carrie Batten
- Pirbright Institute, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK (H.B.); (M.Q.); (S.G.); (J.F.); (C.B.)
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12
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Bourquia M, Garros C, Rakotoarivony I, Gardès L, Huber K, Boukhari I, Delécolle JC, Baldet T, Mignotte A, Lhor Y, Khallaayoune K, Balenghien T. Update of the species checklist of Culicoides Latreille, 1809 biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Morocco. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:459. [PMID: 31551074 PMCID: PMC6757417 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3720-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Investigations of Culicoides fauna, including inventories, were carried out in Morocco at different periods after the country had faced major bluetongue and African horse sickness outbreaks. However, no comprehensive reference publication has provided a clear overview of the Culicoides species diversity. This study reviewed available data on Culicoides biting midge species in Morocco from 1968 to 2015 (published and grey literature in French and English) in order to revise the current checklist, in light of state of the art taxonomic and systematic knowledge, and confirmed the checklist with morphological and molecular identifications of specimens collected from the region of Rabat. Methods Literature related to Culicoides collections in Morocco was collated. Authors were contacted to obtain raw data and additional information for the collections. Fresh Culicoides material was collected and examined from two sites around Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Each collected individual was examined and morphologically identified, if possible, to the species level. In addition, molecular identification was performed to separate closely related species, to confirm difficult morphological identifications and to confirm new species records. Results A total of 6121 individuals of Culicoides spp. were collected and analyzed and at least 17 species were identified: C. cataneii/C. gejgelensis, C. circumscriptus, C. fagineus, C. festivipennis, C. imicola, C. jumineri, C. kingi, C. longipennis, C. montanus, C. newsteadi, C. obsoletus, C. paolae, C. parotti, C. puncticollis, C. sahariensis, C. scoticus and C. subfagineus. Seven species were confirmed using phylogenetic analyses. Two new species records for Morocco are reported: C. paolae and C. subfagineus. Conclusions The Moroccan fauna of Culicoides now includes 54 valid species. Further work would certainly increase this total, as one of the clades we identified was not affiliated to any described and valid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bourquia
- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Unité Parasitologie et Maladies Parasitaires, 10100, Rabat, Morocco. .,ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France. .,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France.
| | - Claire Garros
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 97490, Ste Clotilde, La Réunion, France
| | - Ignace Rakotoarivony
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Laetitia Gardès
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 97170, Petit-Bourg, Guadeloupe, France
| | - Karine Huber
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France
| | - Intissar Boukhari
- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Unité Parasitologie et Maladies Parasitaires, 10100, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Jean-Claude Delécolle
- Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale de Strasbourg (IPPTS) EA7292, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Thierry Baldet
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Antoine Mignotte
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France.,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Youssef Lhor
- Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire, 10015, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Khalid Khallaayoune
- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Unité Parasitologie et Maladies Parasitaires, 10100, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Thomas Balenghien
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, Cirad, INRA, Montpellier, France. .,Cirad, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France. .,Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Unité Microbiologie, Immunologie et Maladies Contagieuses, 10100, Rabat, Morocco.
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13
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Bluetongue Virus in France: An Illustration of the European and Mediterranean Context since the 2000s. Viruses 2019; 11:v11070672. [PMID: 31340459 PMCID: PMC6669443 DOI: 10.3390/v11070672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Bluetongue (BT) is a non-contagious animal disease transmitted by midges of the Culicoides genus. The etiological agent is the BT virus (BTV) that induces a variety of clinical signs in wild or domestic ruminants. BT is included in the notifiable diseases list of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) due to its health impact on domestic ruminants. A total of 27 BTV serotypes have been described and additional serotypes have recently been identified. Since the 2000s, the distribution of BTV has changed in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin, with continuous BTV incursions involving various BTV serotypes and strains. These BTV strains, depending on their origin, have emerged and spread through various routes in the Mediterranean Basin and/or in Europe. Consequently, control measures have been put in place in France to eradicate the virus or circumscribe its spread. These measures mainly consist of assessing virus movements and the vaccination of domestic ruminants. Many vaccination campaigns were first carried out in Europe using attenuated vaccines and, in a second period, using exclusively inactivated vaccines. This review focuses on the history of the various BTV strain incursions in France since the 2000s, describing strain characteristics, their origins, and the different routes of spread in Europe and/or in the Mediterranean Basin. The control measures implemented to address this disease are also discussed. Finally, we explain the circumstances leading to the change in the BTV status of France from BTV-free in 2000 to an enzootic status since 2018.
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