Culicoides imicola (Biting Midge)

 Bluetongue is a non-contagious disease of domestic and wild ruminants caused by a virus within the Orbivirus genus of the family Reoviridae and transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. It is a reportable disease of considerable socioeconomic concern and of major importance for the international trade of animals and animal products. In the past, bluetongue endemic areas were found between latitudes 40°N and 35°S; however, bluetongue has recently spread far beyond this traditional range. This is in accordance with the extension of areas in which the biting midge Culicoides imicola, the major vector of the virus in the “Old World”, is active. After 1998 new serotypes of bluetongue virus (BTV) were discovered in Southern European and Mediterranean countries. Since 2006 BTV-serotype 8 has also been reported from the countries in Northern and Western Europe where Culicoides imicola has not been found. In such cases, BTV is transmitted by Palearctic biting midges, such as C. obsoletus or C. dewulfi, and the disease has thus spread much further north than BTV has ever previously been detected. New BTV serotypes have recently been identified also in Israel, Australia and the USA. This review presents comprehensive information on this dangerous disease including its history, spread, routes of transmission and host range, as well as the causative agent and pathogenesis and diagnosis of the disease. It also deals with relevant preventive and control measures to be implemented in areas with bluetongue outbreaks.  

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Phylogenetic status and matrilineal structure of the biting midge, Culicoides imicola, in Portugal, Rhodes and Israel

Medical and Veterinary Entomology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2915.2003.00454.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 379-387 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

J. F. Dallas ◽

R. H. Cruickshank ◽

Y.-M. Linton ◽

D. V. Nolan ◽

M. Patakakis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biting Midge ◽

Culicoides Imicola ◽

Phylogenetic Status

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Spatio-temporal genetic variation of the biting midge vector species Culicoides imicola (Ceratopogonidae) Kieffer in France

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-016-1426-4 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stéphanie Jacquet ◽

Karine Huber ◽

Hélène Guis ◽

Marie-Laure Setier-Rio ◽

Maria Goffredo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Vector Species ◽

Biting Midge ◽

Culicoides Imicola ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Temporal Genetic Variation

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Heterogeneity of ITS1 sequences in the biting midge Culicoides impunctatus (Goetghebuer) suggests a population in Argyll, Scotland, may be genetically distinct

Genome ◽

10.1139/g04-003 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 546-558 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Allyson Ritchie ◽

Alison Blackwell ◽

Gaynor Malloch ◽

Brian Fenton

Keyword(s):

Secondary Structure ◽

Restriction Analysis ◽

Genetic Relationships ◽

Genomic Region ◽

Genomic Diversity ◽

Cloning And Sequencing ◽

Biting Midge ◽

Culicoides Imicola ◽

Animal Pathogens ◽

Dna Restriction

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) is a useful genomic region for understanding evolutionary and genetic relationships. In the current study, variation in ITS1 from eight Culicoides species was analysed by PCR, DNA restriction analysis, cloning, and sequencing. ITS1 variants were essentially homogenized within a species, as sequences were identical or closely related. However, Culicoides impunctatus ITS1 sequences derived from one (Argyll) of five populations contained considerable genomic diversity. The secondary structure of each ITS1 was computed. The structure aided the production of an accurate alignment and the identification of a large indel. A phylogenetic analysis was performed. Some of the sequences from the diverse Argyll C. impunctatus population were more related to Culicoides imicola, a vector of animal pathogens in the Old World, than they were to the other C. impunctatus sequences. Thus, the rDNA ITS1 regions of individuals in the Argyll C. impunctatus population were not conforming to the general theory of rDNA homogenization through molecular drive.Key words: Culicoides, ITS1, phylogeny, rDNA, secondary structure.

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