The flying activity of biting midges (Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) in Verkiai Regional Park, southeastern Lithuania

Bernotienė, Rasa; Bartkevičienė, Galina; Bukauskaitė, Dovilė

doi:10.1007/s00436-021-07147-2

Cited by 4 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…Ten Culicoides species were identified from 420 investigated parous biting midge females, and Culicoides kibunensis was found to be the dominant species at the study site ( Table 1 ). This species is also known to be among the dominant Culicoides species at other localities in Lithuania in June [ 21 , 37 ]. The composition of the Culicoides species on the Curonian Spit has been investigated by different authors in the southern part of the spit, which belongs to Russia [ 21 , 27 , 38 , 39 ]; however, this is the first study of Culicoides biting midges from the northern part of the Curonian spit, and it shows that the composition of the Culicoides species in different parts of the Curonian spit is similar.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Culicoides segnis and Culicoides pictipennis Biting Midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), New Reported Vectors of Haemoproteus Parasites

2022

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As bloodsuckers of birds, Culicoides biting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) play an important role in the transmission of avian haemosporidian (Haemoproteus) parasites, which are prevalent in many bird populations and cause disease, pathology, or even mortality in their hosts. Information about the role of the various Culicoides species in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites remains insufficient. This presents an obstacle for the better understanding of the epizootiology of haemoproteosis. The aim of this study was to determine new Culicoides species involved in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites in the wild. Biting midges were collected using UV traps on the Curonian Spit, Lithuania. Only parous Culicoides females were investigated: they were identified and were diagnosed for the presence of Haemoproteus parasites using both microscopy and PCR-based methods. We collected and dissected 420 parous Culicoides females. PCR-based screening showed that 28 parous Culicoides biting midges were infected with avian Haemoproteus parasites. Haemoproteid DNA was detected in Culicoides kibunensis, Culicoides pictipennis, Culicoides festivipennis, Culicoides segnis, Culicoides pallidicornis, and Culicoides obsoletus biting midges. The DNA of Haemoproteus palloris, genetic lineage hWW1, was found for the first time in C. pallidicornis. Haemoproteus sporozoites were detected in the salivary glands of two Culicoides segnis biting midges. According to the PCR results, one female contained Haemoproteus tartakovskyi (genetic lineage hHAWF1) DNA and another Haemoproteus majoris (genetic lineage hCCF5) DNA. The sporozoites of Haemoproteus parasites were also detected in the salivary glands of four C. pictipennis biting midges using microscopy, and this finding was confirmed by PCR as Haemoproteus parabelopolskyi DNA (genetic lineage hSYAT02) was detected in three out of the four biting midges. The obtained results supplement existing information about Culicoides biting midges as natural vectors of Haemoproteus spp. and add two new Culicoides species to the vector list, showing the low specificity of these parasites for the invertebrate hosts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Culicoides segnis and Culicoides pictipennis Biting Midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), New Reported Vectors of Haemoproteus Parasites

2022

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“…Nevertheless, humidity seems to be less determinant for Culicoides abundance and flight performance than temperature. During the breeding season of the blue tits, ambient temperature correlates with nest temperature (Ardia et al ., 2006 ), while Culicoides abundance increases with ambient temperature (Bernotienė et al ., 2021 ; Castaño-Vázquez and Merino, 2021 ) and temperature inside the nest (Martínez-de la Puente et al ., 2010 b ). In fact, heat gradients are important cues which biting midges, and other vectors, use to locate their hosts (Lehane, 2005 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the ambient temperature increases throughout the breeding season, we would normally expect more biting midges to visit more nests (e.g. Bernotienė et al ., 2021 ). Several studies have reported effects of seasonality on the abundance of different vector groups, including Culicoides , and found that their abundance generally augmented as the spring progressed (Sarto i Monteys and Saiz-Ardanaz, 2003 ; Ferraguti et al ., 2013 ; Lalubin et al ., 2013 ; Bernotienė et al ., 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bernotienė et al ., 2021 ). Several studies have reported effects of seasonality on the abundance of different vector groups, including Culicoides , and found that their abundance generally augmented as the spring progressed (Sarto i Monteys and Saiz-Ardanaz, 2003 ; Ferraguti et al ., 2013 ; Lalubin et al ., 2013 ; Bernotienė et al ., 2021 ). This was also true of cavity-nesting birds, as Culicoides abundance in their nests increased as the breeding season advanced (Tomás et al ., 2008 a ; Martínez-de la Puente et al ., 2009 a , 2009 b ; Castaño-Vázquez and Merino, 2021 ; this study).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of the possible causes of this difference include the interhabitat variation in the total abundance of Culicoides and/ or because the Culicoides have a different capacity to reach avian nests in each habitat. The availability and extension of water sources in a habitat, together with abiotic soil characteristics, are strong determinants of Culicoides abundance because of their importance for larval development (Uslu and Dik, 2010;Erram et al, 2019) (Bernotienė et al, 2021;Castaño-Vázquez and Merino, 2021) and temperature inside the nest (Martínez-de la Puente et al, 2010b). In fact, heat gradients are important cues which biting midges, and other vectors, use to locate their hosts (Lehane, 2005).…”

Section: Correlative Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat-dependent Culicoides species composition and abundance in blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nests

et al. 2022

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Wild birds are hosts of Culicoides from as early on as the nesting stage when constrained to their nests. However, the environmental factors which determine the abundance and composition of Culicoides species within each bird nest are still understudied. We sampled Culicoides from Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nests found in 2 types of forests located in southern Spain. Firstly, we monitored the abundance of Culicoides species in bird nests from a dry Pyrenean oak deciduous forest and a humid mixed forest comprising Pyrenean and Holm oaks throughout 2 consecutive years. During the 3rd year, we performed a cross-fostering experiment between synchronous nests to differentiate the role of rearing environment conditions from that of the genetically determined or maternally transmitted cues released by nestlings from each forest. We found 147 female Culicoides from 5 different species in the birds' nests. The abundance of Culicoides was higher in the dry forest than in the humid forest. Culicoides abundance, species richness and prevalence were greater when the nestlings were hatched later in the season. The same pattern was observed in the cross-fostering experiment, but we did not find evidence that nestling's features determined by the forest of origin had any effect on the Culicoides collected. These results support the notion that habitat type has a strong influence on the Culicoides affecting birds in their nests, while some life history traits of birds, such as the timing of reproduction, also influence Culicoides abundance and species composition.

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Natural Vector of Avian Haemoproteus asymmetricus Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection

Žiegytė,

Palinauskas,

Bernotienė

2023

Insects

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Avian haemosporidians (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) are widespread blood protists, often causing severe haemosporidiosis, pathology, or even mortality in their hosts. Migrant birds regularly bring various haemosporidian parasites from wintering grounds to European breeding areas. Some haemosporidian parasites are prevalent in breeding sites and complete their life cycles in temperate climate zones and can be transmitted, but others do not. The factors altering the spread of these haemosporidians are not fully understood. Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) play an important role in the transmission of worldwide distributed avian haemosporidian parasites belonging to the genus Haemoproteus, but this information is particularly scarce and insufficient. The key factors limiting the spread of these pathogens in temperate climate zones, which we suspect and aim to study, are the absence of susceptible vectors and the ecological isolation of birds from vectors during the breeding period when transmission occurs. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how the habitats of biting midges and bird breeding sites influence parasite transmission while also seeking to expand our understanding of the natural vectors for these parasites. Biting midges were collected using UV traps on the Curonian Spit, Lithuania, in different habitats, such as woodland and reeds, from May to September. Parous Culicoides females were identified, dissected, and investigated for the presence of Haemoproteus parasites using both microscopy and PCR-based tools. Among the dissected 1135 parous Culicoides females, the sporozoites of Haemoproteus asymmetricus (genetic lineage hTUPHI01) have been detected for the first time in the salivary glands of Culicoides festivipennis. The sporozoites of four Haemoproteus lineages were detected in Culicoides segnis, C. festivipennis, and Culicoides kibunensis biting midges. PCR-based screening showed that the females of seven Culicoides species were naturally infected with Haemoproteus parasites. The DNA of the parasite of owls, Haemoproteus syrnii (hSTAL2), was detected for the first time in Culicoides punctatus. The highest abundance of collected Culicoides females was in June, but the highest prevalence of Haemoproteus parasites in biting midges was in July. The abundance of Culicoides was higher in the woodland compared with reeds during the season. The acquired findings indicate the varied abundance and diversity of biting midges throughout the season and across distinct habitats. This variability could potentially impact the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites among birds with diverse breeding site ecologies. These outcomes hold the potential to enhance our understanding of the epizootiology of Haemoproteus infections within temperate climatic zones.

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The flying activity of biting midges (Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) in Verkiai Regional Park, southeastern Lithuania

Cited by 4 publications

References 40 publications

Culicoides segnis and Culicoides pictipennis Biting Midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), New Reported Vectors of Haemoproteus Parasites

Culicoides segnis and Culicoides pictipennis Biting Midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), New Reported Vectors of Haemoproteus Parasites

Habitat-dependent Culicoides species composition and abundance in blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nests

Natural Vector of Avian Haemoproteus asymmetricus Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection

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