scholarly journals Morphological Keys for the Identification of Tunisian Culicoides Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darine Slama ◽  
Emna Chaker ◽  
Hamouda Babba
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
African Horse Sickness ◽  
Culicoides Species ◽  
Microscope Examination ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Health Significance ◽  
First Time ◽  
Culicoides Biting Midges

Culicoides biting midges are tiny blood-feeding insects of several diseases with veterinary and public health significance, including Bluetongue in ruminants, African horse sickness in equids and filarial diseases like Onchocercosis and Mansonellosis affecting various species such as humans. Their identification depends basically on the microscope examination of key morphological characters. Consequently, identification keys are important to any non experiment working with these biting midges. The Tunisian fauna of Culicoides biting midges consists of 35 species, whose morphological delineation may be troublesome for non-taxonomists. In response to this situation, and for the first time a key to the adult Culicoides species in Tunisia was prepared.

scholarly journals List of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the state of Amazonas, Brazil, including new records

Check List ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuelle De Sousa Farias ◽  
Jéssica Feijó Almeida ◽  
Felipe Arley Costa Pessoa
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
The State ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Amazonas State ◽  
Pathogenic Agents ◽  
First Time ◽  
Culicoides Biting Midges

Culicoides are vectors of pathogenic agents that infect humans and other animals. Here, we provide a list of Culicoides from the state of Amazonas and also document new records from Presidente Figueiredo Municipality, Amazonas, Brazil. We provide a map of recorded species and a wing atlas for identification. The Culicoides fauna of Amazonas is now known to include 89 known species that belong to seven subgenera, 10 informal species groups, and one ungrouped species. We record nine species of Culicoides (C. aldomari, C. batesi, C. brownie, C. flavivenulus, C. franklini, C. guamai, C. paramaruim, C. pusilloides and C. tidwelli) for the first time from Amazonas state. Culicoides brownie and C. tidwelli are reported for the first time from Brazil.

How does the ecology of Culicoides biting midges influence the risk of an epidemic of African Horse Sickness?

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. S83-S84
Author(s):  
G. Lo Iacono ◽  
C. Robin ◽  
S. Gubbins ◽  
R. Newton ◽  
J. Wood
Keyword(s):  
African Horse Sickness ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Culicoides Biting Midges

scholarly journals An Investigation of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as Potential Vectors of Medically and Veterinary Important Arboviruses in South Africa

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1978
Author(s):  
Jumari Snyman ◽  
Gert J. Venter ◽  
Marietjie Venter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
African Horse Sickness ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Culicoides Biting Midges ◽  
Minimum Infection Rate

Culicoides-borne viruses such as bluetongue, African horse sickness, and Schmallenberg virus cause major economic burdens due to animal outbreaks in Africa and their emergence in Europe and Asia. However, little is known about the role of Culicoides as vectors for zoonotic arboviruses. In this study, we identify both veterinary and zoonotic arboviruses in pools of Culicoides biting midges in South Africa, during 2012–2017. Midges were collected at six surveillance sites in three provinces and screened for Alphavirs, Flavivirus, Orthobunyavirus, and Phlebovirus genera; equine encephalosis virus (EEV); and Rhaboviridae, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In total, 66/331 (minimum infection rate (MIR) = 0.4) pools tested positive for one or more arbovirus. Orthobunyaviruses, including Shuni virus (MIR = 0.1) and EEV (MIR = 0.2) were more readily detected, while only 2/66 (MIR = 0.1) Middelburg virus and 4/66 unknown Rhabdoviridae viruses (MIR = 0.0) were detected. This study suggests Culicoides as potential vectors of both veterinary and zoonotic arboviruses detected in disease outbreaks in Africa, which may contribute to the emergence of these viruses to new regions.

Occurrence of Clostridium perfringens Types A, E, and C in Fresh Fish and Its Public Health Significance

2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 994-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAHA SABRY ◽  
KHALED ABD EL-MOEIN ◽  
EMAN HAMZA ◽  
FATMA ABDEL KADER
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Clostridium Perfringens ◽  
External Surface ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Fresh Fish ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Public Health Significance ◽  
Canned Fish ◽  
Health Significance ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT Fish remains among the most traded of food commodities, and Egypt is one of the emerging countries being recognized as an important world fish exporter. Clostridium perfringens is an important foodborne pathogen to consider in fish trade, as it has been implicated as the causative organism of two fish outbreaks. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and toxin diversity of C. perfringens associated with fresh and canned fish and to examine the public health significance of C. perfringens infection in fish. Isolation and identification of C. perfringens showed a significantly higher prevalence of the bacterium in fresh fish collected from aquaculture (54.5%) and from markets (71%) as well as in humans in contact with fish (63%) compared with water used for keeping fresh fish (27.3%) and water used in canned fish (17.8%). The isolation level was significantly higher in samples from the external surface of fresh fish (31.8% in aquaculture, 45.6% in markets) than from the intestinal contents of the same fish (9.1% in aquaculture, 6.7% in markets). Thus, markets represent a risk factor for contamination of the external surface of fish from the surrounding environment. Genotyping of the C. perfringens–positive isolates by using multiplex PCR revealed that type A enterotoxin-negative (CPE−) is the predominant strain among fish (fresh and canned), humans, and water in contact with fresh fish. Interestingly, C. perfringens types A enterotoxin-positive (CPE+) and C were found only in fresh fish, and these two strains have great health importance in humans. Strikingly, C. perfringens type E strain was detected for the first time in fish, humans, and water in contact with fresh fish. Our results demonstrate for the first time that fish act as a reservoir for C. perfringens, particularly for types A CPE+, C, and E. The external surface of fish represents a vehicle for contamination of fish from the surrounding environment as well as a source of infection of humans, thereby representing a public health hazard.

scholarly journals The Absence of Abdominal Pigmentation in Livestock Associated Culicoides following Artificial Blood Feeding and the Epidemiological Implication for Arbovirus Surveillance

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1571
Author(s):  
Maria Goffredo ◽  
Michela Quaglia ◽  
Matteo De Ascentis ◽  
Silvio Gerardo d’Alessio ◽  
Valentina Federici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
African Horse Sickness ◽  
Culicoides Species ◽  
African Horse Sickness Virus ◽  
Artificial Blood ◽  
Parity Rate ◽  
Feeding Methods ◽  
Feeding Trials ◽  
Blood Meal Size

Culicoides midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), the vectors of economically important arboviruses such as bluetongue virus and African horse sickness virus, are of global importance. In the absence of transovarial transmission, the parity rate of a Culicoides population provides imperative information regarding the risk of virus dispersal. Abdominal pigmentation, which develops after blood feeding and ovipositioning, is used as an indicator of parity in Culicoides. During oral susceptibility trials over the last three decades, a persistent proportion of blood engorged females did not develop pigment after incubation. The present study, combining a number of feeding trials and different artificial feeding methods, reports on this phenomenon, as observed in various South African and Italian Culicoides species and populations. The absence of pigmentation in artificial blood-fed females was found in at least 23 Culicoides species, including important vectors such as C. imicola, C. bolitinos, C. obsoletus, and C. scoticus. Viruses were repeatedly detected in these unpigmented females after incubation. Blood meal size seems to play a role and this phenomenon could be present in the field and requires consideration, especially regarding the detection of virus in apparent “nulliparous” females and the identification of overwintering mechanisms and seasonally free vector zones.

scholarly journals Surveillance entomologique de la fièvre catarrhale ovine en Algérie

2009 ◽  
Vol 62 (2-4) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Djerbal ◽  
Jean-Claude Delecolle
Keyword(s):  
African Horse Sickness ◽  
Culicoides Species ◽  
Old World ◽  
Culicoides Imicola ◽  
Virus Serotype ◽  
Weak Activity ◽  
June July ◽  
First Time ◽  
Second Period

Culicoides imicola is the major Old World vector of the arbovi­ruses that caused African horse sickness and bluetongue (BT). BT was observed for the first time in Algeria in 2000. BT virus serotype 2 (BTV-2) was then reported, whereas BTV-1 was incriminated in 2006. Various Culicoides species were captured during the trapping campaigns of 2003 and 2006 carried out by Delécolle and Baldet, and those of 2007 and 2009 carried out by the present team. The 2007/2009 campaigns covered two periods (March-April and June-July) and samples were collected in 28 departments of Algeria. More C. imicola were caught in the second period (June-July). Although a weak activity and sometimes absence of C. imicola were observed in some depart­ments, BTV-1 was reported in these areas. It seems likely that other species of Culicoides are incriminated in the transmission of BTV in the country. The 2007/2009 campaigns revealed 10 new Culicoides species, which, added to the 37 species identi­fied by Delécolle and Baldet in the 2003/2006 campaigns, bring the total of known species in Algeria to 47.

scholarly journals Culicoides biting midges, arboviruses and public health in Europe

2013 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Carpenter ◽  
Martin H. Groschup ◽  
Claire Garros ◽  
Maria Luiza Felippe-Bauer ◽  
Bethan V. Purse
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Culicoides Biting Midges

scholarly journals Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Four Anaplasma Species With Veterinary and Public Health Significance Identified in Tibetan Sheep (Ovis aries) and Yaks (Bos grunniens) in Qinghai, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Wang ◽  
Qingxun Zhang ◽  
Shuyi Han ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
Bo Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Ovis Aries ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Ehrlichia Chaffeensis ◽  
Bos Grunniens ◽  
Tibetan Sheep ◽  
Health Significance ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau ◽  
First Time

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) can cause serious economic losses and are very important to animal and public health. To date, research on TBDs has been limited in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. This epidemiological investigation was conducted to evaluate the distribution and risk factors of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia chaffeensis in livestock in Qinghai. A total of 566 blood samples, including 330 yaks (Bos grunniens) and 236 Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) were screened. Results showed that A. bovis (33.3%, 110/330) and A. phagocytophilum (29.4%, 97/330) were most prevalent in yaks, followed by A. ovis (1.2%, 4/330), A. capra (0.6%, 2/330), and E. chaffeensis (0.6%, 2/330). While A. ovis (80.9%, 191/236) and A. bovis (5.1%, 12/236) infection was identified in Tibetan sheep. To our knowledge, it is the first time that A. capra and E. chaffeensis have been detected in yaks in China. Apart from that, we also found that co-infection of A. bovis and A. phagocytophilum is common in yaks (28.2%, 93/330). For triple co-infection, two yaks were infected with A. bovis, A. phagocytophilum, and A. capra, and two yaks were infected with A. bovis, A. phagocytophilum, and E. chaffeensis. Risk analysis shows that infection with A. bovis, A. phagocytophilum, and A. ovis was related to region and altitude. This study provides new data on the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. and E. chaffeensis in Qinghai, China, which may help to develop new strategies for active responding to these pathogens.

scholarly journals Culicoides Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Sick ◽  
Martin Beer ◽  
Helge Kampen ◽  
Kerstin Wernike
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Veterinary Importance ◽  
Hematophagous Arthropods ◽  
Culicoides Biting Midges

Culicoides biting midges, small hematophagous dipterans, are the demonstrated or putative vectors of multiple arboviruses of veterinary and public health importance. Despite its relevance in disease spread, the ceratopogonid genus Culicoides is still a largely neglected group of species, predominantly because the major human-affecting arboviruses are considered to be transmitted by mosquitoes. However, when a pathogen is detected in a certain vector species, a thorough search for further vectors often remains undone and, therefore, the relevant vector species may remain unknown. Furthermore, for many hematophagous arthropods, true vector competence is often merely suspected and not experimentally proven. Therefore, we aim to illuminate the general impact of Culicoides biting midges and to summarize the knowledge about biting midge-borne disease agents using the order Bunyavirales, the largest and most diverse group of RNA viruses, as an example. When considering only viruses evidentially transmitted by Culicoides midges, the Simbu serogroup (genus Orthobunyavirus) is presumably the most important group within the virus order. Its members are of great veterinary importance, as a variety of simbuviruses, e.g., the species Akabane orthobunyavirus or Schmallenberg orthobunyavirus, induces severe congenital infections in pregnant animals. The major zoonotic representative of this serogroup occurs in South and Central America and causes the so-called Oropouche fever, an acute febrile illness in humans.

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