Culicoides monitoring in Belgium in 2011: analysis of spatiotemporal abundance, species diversity and Schmallenberg virus detection

Abstract

Abstract. In 2011, Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were collected at 16 locations covering four regions of Belgium with Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) traps and at two locations with Rothamsted suction traps (RSTs). Quantification of the collections and morphological identification showed important variations in abundance and species diversity between individual collection sites, even for sites located in the same region. However, consistently higher numbers of Culicoides midges were collected at some sites compared with others. When species abundance and diversity were analysed at regional level, between-site variation disappeared. Overall, species belonging to the subgenus Avaritia together with Culicoides pulicaris (subgenus Culicoides) were the most abundant, accounting for 80% and 96% of all midges collected with RSTs and OVI traps, respectively. Culicoides were present during most of the year, with Culicoides obsoletus complex midges found from 9 February until 27 December. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction screening for Schmallenberg virus in the heads of collected midges resulted in the first detection of the virus in August 2011 and identified C. obsoletus complex, Culicoides chiopterus and Culicoides dewulfi midges as putative vector species. At Libramont in the south of Belgium, no positive pools were identified.

Blood-feeding, susceptibility to infection with Schmallenberg virus and phylogenetics of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the United Kingdom

“…This hypothesis was confirmed by a series of field-based trials in Belgium, the Netherlands and France that detected significant quantities of SBV RNA in Culicoides collected in close proximity to livestock [14][15][16][17][18], while failing to detect virus in mosquitoes [19]. Techniques to assess the probability of field transmission of SBV by Culicoides and mosquitoes were standardised using colony lines of Culicoides sonorensis Wirth & Jones and Culicoides nubeculosus (Meigen) infected using artificial membrane-based techniques [20,21].…”

“…Within northwestern Europe, the Culicoides fauna on farms and stables are dominated by species classified within the subgenus Avaritia [18,22,23]. Until recently four species within this subgenus have been identified within this region and are commonly referred to as the Obsoletus group, despite a lack of monophyly: Culicoides obsoletus (Meigen) and Culicoides scoticus Downes & Kettle; Culicoides dewulfi Goetghebuer and Culicoides chiopterus (Meigen) [24][25][26].…”

Evidence of extensive renewed Schmallenberg virus circulation in Belgium during summer of 2016 - increase in arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly cases expected

“…Culicoides midges are assumed to be the most important biological vectors of SBV. Culicoides obsoletus complex (including C. obsoletus s.s. and Culicoides scoticus ), Culicoides chiopterus, and Culicoides dewulfi midges have been proposed to be putative SBV vectors (De Regge et al., , ; Elbers, Meiswinkel, van Weezep, Kooi, & van der Poel, ; Elbers, Meiswinkel, van Weezep, van Oldruitenborgh‐Oosterbaan, & Kooi, ; Goffredo et al., ; Larska, Lechowski, Grochowska, & Zmudziński, ; Larska, Polak et al., ; Rasmussen et al., ).…”

“…Since 2013, no more confirmed SBV cases were reported and efforts to follow the SBV situation in Belgium were strongly reduced (Poskin et al., ). The lack of significant SBV circulation and associated losses since that time makes that governments, veterinarians, and farmers tend to lose their awareness for this disease (De Regge ; De Regge et al., ).…”

A first estimation of Culicoides imicola and Culicoides obsoletus/Culicoides scoticus seasonality and abundance in Europe

“…Belgium (Fasotte et al 2008, De Regge et al 2015 Fassotte et al (2008) Figure 12). Low temperatures, heavy wind and rain are known to inhibit Culicoides spp.…”