Monitoring of Putative Vectors of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 8, Germany

Abstract

To identify the vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV) in Germany, we monitored Culicoides spp. biting midges during April 2007–May 2008. Molecular characterization of batches of midges that tested positive for BTV suggests C. obsoletus sensu stricto as a relevant vector of bluetongue disease in central Europe.

Orientation behaviour of Culicoides obsoletus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a relevant virus vector in northern Europe, toward host-associated odorant cues

“…Behavioural studies using olfactometers or wind or flight tunnels in which a specific number of biting insects are released are very rare (Bhasin et al, 2000b) due to the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient number of insects, given the complexity of maintaining many Culicoides species of interest under controlled conditions. Only a few speciesof limited interest in northern Europe -are commonly bred (Jones, 1964;Fahrner and Barthelmess, 1988;Kremer and Lienhart, 1998), and these do not include species of the subgenus Avaritia (particularly Culicoides obsoletus Meigen 1818), considered to be vectors of BTV and SBV (Mehlhorn et al, 2007;Carpenter et al, 2008;Hoffmann et al, 2009;De Regge et al, 2012;Elbers et al, 2013).…”

Molecular detection of bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in captured Culicoides spp. in the northeastern regions of Mexico

“…in certain areas of livestock production is important for the design of management programs and for the health of domestic and wild animals susceptible to these viruses (Hoffmann et al, 2009;Charron et al, 2013;Coetzee et al, 2012;Savini et al, 2011). In endemic areas both viruses can potentially be transmitted by the same vector Cêtre-Sossah et al, 2014).…”

“…It implies the recognition of the virus receptors in the intestinal cells of midges, subsequent internalization and replication, as well as the spreading from this site to other tissues that allow the dispersion to salivary glands and ovaries of the insect (Mellor, 2000). The presence of these viruses in the tissues of their insect vectors is indicative of their movement in certain geographic region (Hoffmann et al, 2009); therefore, the distribution of arboviral diseases caused by these viruses depends on the presence and distribution in the environment of such insect vectors (Wittmann and Baylis, 2000). The epidemiology and outbreaks of infections caused by BTV and EHDV depend on the multiple interactions that exist between these viruses, their vectors, the environment and the susceptibility of ruminants (Mellor, 2000) (Savini et al, 2011) (Legisa et al, 2014).…”

Comparaison des populations deCulicoidesLatreille 1809 (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae) présentes au sein d’une bergerie belge et d’une prairie ovine associée

“…Ce genre compte environ 1.400 espèces de moucherons (Borkent 2012), d'une taille comprise entre 1 et 4 mm, dont la plupart sont crépusculaires à nocturnes. Seules quelques espèces semblent toutefois impliquées dans la transmission de ces virus, dont une trentaine pour le virus de la FCO (Mellor 1990;Mellor et al 2000;Caracappa et al 2003;Meiswinkel et al 2004;Mehlhorn et al 2007;Meiswinkel et al 2007;Balenghien et al 2008;Carpenter et al 2008a;Dijkstra et al 2008;Meiswinkel et al 2008a;Saegerman et al 2008a;Hoffmann et al 2009;Vanbinst et al 2009). Les culicoïdes constituent aussi une source de nuisance pour l'homme, suite au désagrément causé par les piqûres des moucherons femelles.…”