Fur or feather? Feeding preferences of species of Culicoides biting midges in Europe

Puente, Josué Martínez de la; Figuerola, Jordi; Soriguer, Ramón C.

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2014.11.002

Cited by 69 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Our experimental species C. nubeculosus is considered to be mammalophilic, feeding on a large spectrum of mammals [28]; however, the species that we have found naturally infected with avian trypanosomes have repeatedly been found to feed on birds, and are considered ornithophilic or at least opportunistic [29–31]. The findings of midges infected with avian trypanosomes further confirm not only their association with avian hosts but also their potential to function in the transmission cycle.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) as vectors of avian trypanosomes

et al. 2017

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BackgroundAlthough avian trypanosomes are widespread parasites, the knowledge of their vectors is still incomplete. Despite biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are considered as potential vectors of avian trypanosomes, their role in transmission has not been satisfactorily elucidated. Our aim was to clarify the potential of biting midges to sustain the development of avian trypanosomes by testing their susceptibility to different strains of avian trypanosomes experimentally. Moreover, we screened biting midges for natural infections in the wild.ResultsLaboratory-bred biting midges Culicoides nubeculosus were highly susceptible to trypanosomes from the Trypanosoma bennetti and T. avium clades. Infection rates reached 100%, heavy infections developed in 55–87% of blood-fed females. Parasite stages from the insect gut were infective for birds. Moreover, midges could be infected after feeding on a trypanosome-positive bird. Avian trypanosomes can thus complete their cycle in birds and biting midges. Furthermore, we succeeded to find infected blood meal-free biting midges in the wild.ConclusionsBiting midges are probable vectors of avian trypanosomes belonging to T. bennetti group. Midges are highly susceptible to artificial infections, can be infected after feeding on birds, and T. bennetti-infected biting midges (Culicoides spp.) have been found in nature. Moreover, midges can be used as model hosts producing metacyclic avian trypanosome stages infective for avian hosts.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) as vectors of avian trypanosomes

et al. 2017

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“…Our results represent the most comprehensive dataset to date regarding Nearctic Culicoides host choice. The value of these data cannot be understated as one of the most important shortcomings in our knowledge of Culicoides biology is the lack of data regarding trophic behavior and host selection across diverse habitats [23, 46]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Picky eaters are rare: DNA-based blood meal analysis of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) species from the United States

Hopken

Ryan

Huyvaert³

et al. 2017

Parasites Vectors

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BackgroundBiting midges in the genus Culicoides (Diptera; Ceratopogonidae) have been implicated in the transmission of a number of parasites and highly pathogenic viruses. In North America, the complete transmission cycles of many of these pathogens need further elucidation. One way to increase our knowledge about the evolution and ecology of Culicoides species and the pathogens they transmit is to document the diversity of vertebrate hosts that Culicoides feed upon. Our objective was to identify the diversity of Culicoides hosts in the United States.ResultsWe sequenced two vertebrate mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and cytochrome b) from blood-engorged Culicoides to identify Culicoides species and their blood meals. We detected the mitochondrial DNA of 12 host species from seven different Culicoides species from three states. The majority of the identified blood meals were from the C. variipennis species complex in California. The hosts included both mammals and birds. We documented new host records for some of the Culicoides species collected. The majority of the mammalian hosts were large ungulate species but we also detected a lagomorph and a carnivore. The bird species that were detected included house finch and emu; the latter is evidence that the species in the C. variipennis species complex are not strictly mammalophilic.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that Culicoides will feed on multiple classes of vertebrates and may be more opportunistic in regards to host choice than previously thought. This knowledge can help with identification of susceptible host species, pathogen reservoirs, and new vector species which, in turn, will improve disease outbreak risk assessments.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2099-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Species of the subgenus Avaritia , which includes the BT vectors C. imicola and C. obsoletus , use mammals as their preferred hosts, although the host species used and the frequencies of their use vary among studies (Table ) (Martínez‐de la Puente et al ., ). For instance, in Senegal, most C. imicola were found to feed on horses, but a percentage of the identified midges also fed on cows (Bakhoum et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Blackwell et al ., ) and molecular approaches (e.g. Bartsch et al ., ; Martínez‐de la Puente et al ., , ). Molecular tools are especially useful for identifying hosts to species level and for increasing the sensitivity and specificity of the results of immunological assays (Alcaide et al ., 2009; Kent, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Identification of the host species of C. imicola as a means of quantifying the potential role of this vector in the transmission of pathogens to livestock and between livestock and wildlife is essential to understanding the epidemiology of BT disease in Mediterranean Europe (Ruiz‐Fons et al ., ). Despite their importance in pathogen amplification, very little is known about the vertebrate hosts of C. imicola in Europe (Martínez‐de la Puente et al ., ; Ruiz‐Fons et al ., ). To the present authors' knowledge, extensive molecular studies have been conducted only in Africa, specifically in Tunisia, where C. imicola feeds mainly on humans [93% of 96 bloodmeals identified based on the amplification of the cythocrome b (cyt b ) and PNOC genes (Slama et al ., )] and in Senegal, where 96% of 26 identified bloodmeals derived from horses [based on cyt b amplifications (Bakhoum et al ., )].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First molecular identification of the vertebrate hosts of Culicoides imicola in Europe and a review of its blood‐feeding patterns worldwide: implications for the transmission of bluetongue disease and African horse sickness

Puente

Navarro

Ferraguti

et al. 2017

Medical Vet Entomology

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Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of pathogens that affect wildlife, livestock and, occasionally, humans. Culicoides imicola (Kieffer, 1913) is considered to be the main vector of the pathogens that cause bluetongue disease (BT) and African horse sickness (AHS) in southern Europe. The study of blood-feeding patterns in Culicoides is an essential step towards understanding the epidemiology of these pathogens. Molecular tools that increase the accuracy and sensitivity of traditional methods have been developed to identify the hosts of potential insect vectors. However, to the present group's knowledge, molecular studies that identify the hosts of C. imicola in Europe are lacking. The present study genetically characterizes the barcoding region of C. imicola trapped on farms in southern Spain and identifies its vertebrate hosts in the area. The report also reviews available information on the blood-feeding patterns of C. imicola worldwide. Culicoides imicola from Spain feed on blood of six mammals that include species known to be hosts of the BT and AHS viruses. This study provides evidence of the importance of livestock as sources of bloodmeals for C. imicola and the relevance of this species in the transmission of BT and AHS viruses in Europe.

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Fur or feather? Feeding preferences of species of Culicoides biting midges in Europe

Cited by 69 publications

References 61 publications

Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) as vectors of avian trypanosomes

Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) as vectors of avian trypanosomes

Picky eaters are rare: DNA-based blood meal analysis of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) species from the United States

First molecular identification of the vertebrate hosts of Culicoides imicola in Europe and a review of its blood‐feeding patterns worldwide: implications for the transmission of bluetongue disease and African horse sickness

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