Molecular Identification, Phylogenetic Status, and Geographic Distribution of Culicoides oxystoma (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Israel

Abstract

Culicoides oxystoma (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is an important vector species, reported mainly from Asia, with high potential to transmit viral diseases affecting livestock. In Japan, many arboviruses have been isolated from C. oxystoma, suggesting it as a key player in the epidemiology of several Culicoides-borne diseases. Over the years, C. oxystoma has also been reported in the Middle East region, including Israel. In this region, however, C. oxystoma cannot be easily distinguished morphologically from its sibling species included in the Culicoides schultzei complex. We therefore used genomic data for species identification and phylogeny resolution. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) of ribosomal DNA and the mitochondrial gene encoding cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) showed that C. oxystoma from Israel is closely related to C. oxystoma from Japan. Using differential probing PCR, we showed that C. oxystoma is distributed all over the country, especially in Mediterranean climate regions. Culicoides oxystoma is less common or even absent in arid regions, while the other genetic cluster of C. schultzei complex was found only in the east of the country (mostly arid and semiarid regions). The molecular finding of C. oxystoma in wide geographical regions, together with its high proportion in the general Culicoides population and its vectoring potential, imply that it may be an important vector species in the Middle East.

First Record of Culicoides oxystoma Kieffer and Diversity of Species within the Schultzei Group of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Biting Midges in Senegal

“…There has been a great deal of confusion in the literature between this species, C. schultzei and C. subschultzei [8], [25], [37]. Boorman (1989) suggested that most of the records of C .…”

Assessment of Survival and Body Size Variation of Culicoides imicola (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as Functions of “Candidatus Cardinium” (Bacteroidetes) Infection Status

“…Initial identification of the dominant species, C. imicola and members of the Culicoides schultzei species group (difficult to separate morphologically), was initially based on the wing spot pattern and other diagnostic morphological traits (www.culicoides.net). In parallel, molecular identification of individual midges was carried out by internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) PCR, as previously described (29). The midges were further morphologically categorized according to their parity (oviposition) status, which in this genus varies with abdominal pigmentation (30).…”

Host preferences and circadian rhythm of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), vectors of African horse sickness and bluetongue viruses in Senegal

“…It may be that C. oxystoma and C. kingi also contribute to the transmission of the AHSV in Senegal, and more broadly in West Africa (Fall et al, 2015). Culicoides oxystoma has been reported as a putative vector for BTV in northern India (Prasad et al, 1999), as involved in the transmission of bovine arboviruses such as Akabane virus in Japan (Kurogi et al, 1987;Yanase et al, 2005) and is suspected of transmitting the epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in Israel (Morag et al, 2012).…”