Culicoides Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance

Sick, Franziska; Beer, Martin; Kampen, Helge; Wernike, Kerstin

doi:10.3390/v11040376

Cited by 89 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 145 publications

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“…To our knowledge, this is the first indication of the potential involvement of C. puncticollis in transmitting Simbu serogroup viruses. It should be noted that genomic detection of a virus may simply indicate ingestion of a viraemic blood meal, which does not necessarily guarantee infection of the vector (Sick, Beer, Kampen, & Wernike, ). Consequently, since C. puncticollis is also suspected of transmitting BTV (Meiswinkel et al, ), further studies are needed to better understand its competence as a vector.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and spatial variation in Culicoides community structure and their potential role in transmitting Simbu serogroup viruses in Israel

Behar¹,

Rot²,

Lavon

et al. 2020

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are a successful group of small (1–3 mm) haematophagous flies, some species of which are biological vectors of veterinary arboviruses, such as bluetongue virus, epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus, African horse sickness virus and Simbu serogroup viruses. In this study, we examine seasonal and spatial effects on the presence and distribution of Culicoides communities associated with ruminant and equine farms in Israel, and their infection with Simbu serogroup viruses. Our results demonstrate that both the vectors and the viruses are widely spread in Israel, including regions that were previously considered Culicoides‐free. Moreover, our results show that although seasonality affects infection with Simbu serogroup viruses, both viruses and potential vectors can be found year round, suggesting continuous circulation of Simbu serogroup viruses in Israeli livestock farms. Finally, this study provides novel and basic information on Simbu serogroup‐infected Culicoides in Israel: it demonstrates that Sathuperi, Shuni and Peaton viruses were circulating in Israel in 2015–2017 as they were found in C. imicola and C. oxystoma, both potential vectors of these viruses, and supplies the first‐ever genomic detection of Sathuperi in Israel. Consequently, the data emerging from this study are of importance in understanding the epidemiology of arboviruses in Israel and are of relevance to the potential spread and possible future outbreaks of different Simbu serogroup viruses within the Mediterranean region and Europe.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and spatial variation in Culicoides community structure and their potential role in transmitting Simbu serogroup viruses in Israel

Behar¹,

Rot²,

Lavon

et al. 2020

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…outbreaks of the Culicoides-borne Oropouche virus in humans regularly occur in the Neotropics [6]. In Europe, several biting midge species are able to transmit bluetongue virus (BTV), African horse sickness virus and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) [7]. These viruses are responsible for outbreaks of non-contagious diseases in ruminants, causing huge economic losses, e.g.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood-meal analysis of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) reveals a broad host range and new species records for Romania

et al. 2020

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Background: Culicoides biting midges are potential vectors of different pathogens. However, especially for eastern Europe, there is a lack of knowledge on the host-feeding patterns of this vector group. Therefore, this study aimed to identify Culicoides spp. and their vertebrate hosts collected in a wetland ecosystem. Methods: Culicoides spp. were collected weekly from May to August 2017, using Biogents traps with UV light at four sites in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania. Vectors and hosts were identified with a DNA barcoding approach. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 was used to identify Culicoides spp., while vertebrate hosts were determined targeting cytochrome b or 16S rRNA gene fragments. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed to verify the biting midge identity against other conspecific Palaearctic Culicoides species. A set of unfed midges was used for morphological confirmation of species identification using slide-mounted wings. Results: Barcoding allowed the species identification and detection of corresponding hosts for 1040 (82.3%) of the 1264 analysed specimens. Eight Culicoides spp. were identified with Culicoides griseidorsum, Culicoides puncticollis and Culicoides submaritimus as new species records for Romania. For 39 specimens no similar sequences were found in GenBank. This group of unknown Culicoides showed a divergence of 15.6-16.3% from the closest identified species and clustered in a monophyletic clade, i.e. a novel species or a species without reference sequences in molecular libraries. For all Culicoides spp., nine mammalian and 24 avian species were detected as hosts. With the exception of C. riethi (n = 12), at least one avian host was detected for all Culicoides spp., but this host group only dominated for Culicoides kibunensis and the unknown Culicoides sp.. The most common host group were mammals (n = 993, 87.6% of all identified blood sources) dominated by cattle (n = 817, 70.6%). Conclusions: Most Culicoides spp. showed a broad host-feeding pattern making them potential bridge vectors. At the same time, new records of biting midge species for Romania, as well as a potentially unknown Culicoides species, highlight the lack of knowledge regarding the biting midge species and their genetic diversity in eastern Europe.

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“…Mosquitoes are the principal vector of arboviruses, although other arthropod taxa such as ticks, sandflies and biting midges are also implicated in medically important arboviruses transmission (Alkan et al, 2013;Kazimirova et al, 2017;Sick et al, 2019).…”

Section: Mosquito Biology Physiology Behavior and Effects Of Tempermentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Temperature in Shaping Mosquito-Borne Viruses Transmission

Bellone

Failloux

2020

Front. Microbiol.

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Mosquito-borne diseases having the greatest impact on human health are typically prevalent in the tropical belt of the world. However, these diseases are conquering temperate regions, raising the question of the role of temperature on their dynamics and expansion. Temperature is one of the most significant abiotic factors affecting, in many ways, insect vectors and the pathogens they transmit. Here, we debate the veracity of this claim by synthesizing current knowledge on the effects of temperature on arboviruses and their vectors, as well as the outcome of their interactions.

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Culicoides Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance

Cited by 89 publications

References 145 publications

Seasonal and spatial variation in Culicoides community structure and their potential role in transmitting Simbu serogroup viruses in Israel

Seasonal and spatial variation in Culicoides community structure and their potential role in transmitting Simbu serogroup viruses in Israel

Blood-meal analysis of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) reveals a broad host range and new species records for Romania

The Role of Temperature in Shaping Mosquito-Borne Viruses Transmission

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