Abundance and species composition of Culicoides spp. biting midges near cattle and horse in South-Eastern Poland.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to estimate and compare the distribution of Culicoides biting midges species at farms with different main hosts - cattle and horse. Culicoides spp. are known vectors of arboviruses including African horse sickness virus (AHSV), bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV). The latter two have been already reported in Polish ruminants recently, while AHSV remains absent, however the risk of its emergence has been increasing in the recent years. In order to establish the activity of potential AHSV vector at vicinity of horses, an OVI midge trap has been placed at the horse stables in the southeastern Poland. Another trap has been placed 7 km away at the cattle farm. The collections were carried over the midge activity season from April until November 2016. The midge abundances at both sites were comparable with the total numbers of insects trapped of 43,153 and 34,829 at the cattle and horse farm, respectively. Midges belonging to C. obsoletus/scoticus complex were the dominant ones at both locations. The other most abundant species were C. punctatus and C. pulicaris, while the other ten species identified (C. chiopterus, C. deltus, C. dewulfi, C. fagineus, C. impunctatus, C. newsteadi, C. nubeculosus, C. parroti, C. riethi, C. stigma) accounted for less than 0.5%. The study has shown that the Orbivirus vectors are present at a high abundance at the Polish horse farm, what may be a helpful tool in the AHS risk assessment in the nonendemic part of Europe.
Publication Date: 2017-10-17 PubMed ID: 29035852DOI: 10.1515/ap-2017-0089Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research explores the distribution and composition of Culicoides midges species, potential vectors of arboviruses, at farms housing cattle and horses in South-Eastern Poland. The aim was to assess activity around the host farms which could inform on the potential risk of arbovirus emergence.
Research Goal
- The study focuses on observing Culicoides midges. These insects can act as vectors, or carriers, for arboviruses like African horse sickness virus (AHSV), bluetongue virus (BTV), and Schmallenberg virus (SBV).
- The primary goal of the research was to estimate and compare the distribution of these midges on farms with different main hosts: cattle and horses.
- While BTV and SBV have already been reported in Polish ruminants, AHSV remains absent. However, the risk of it emerging has been increasing in recent years, prompting this study.
Research Methods
- To get data, researchers placed an Outdoor Vertical Intake (OVI) midge trap near horse stables in southeastern Poland.
- Another trap was positioned 7 km away at a cattle farm. Both traps collected data over a midge activity season from April until November 2016.
Findings of the Study
- The researchers found comparable midge abundances at both sites, with total numbers of trapped insects as 43,153 and 34,829 at the cattle and horse farms, respectively.
- The dominant species at both locations were midges from the C. obsoletus/scoticus complex.
- Other abundant species identified included C. punctatus and C. pulicaris.
- Ten other species — C. chiopterus, C. deltus, C. dewulfi, C. fagineus, C. impunctatus, C. newsteadi, C. nubeculosus, C. parroti, C. riethi, and C. stigma — were also identified, but these constituted less than 0.5% of the observed populations.
Significance of the Research
- This research demonstrates that Orbivirus vectors, specifically the potential vectors for AHSV, exist in large quantities at Polish horse farms — an observation that may help in evaluating the risk of African Horse Sickness in a non-endemic area of Europe.
- The findings may contribute to preventive measures and better disease monitoring systems for these arboviruses affecting ruminants.
Cite This Article
APA
Larska M, Grochowska M, Lechowski L, Żmudziński JF.
(2017).
Abundance and species composition of Culicoides spp. biting midges near cattle and horse in South-Eastern Poland.
Acta Parasitol, 62(4), 739-747.
https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2017-0089 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
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MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry
- Animals
- Cattle
- Ceratopogonidae / classification
- Ceratopogonidae / physiology
- Horses
- Poland
- Species Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Dhollander S, Balmoș OM, Cattaneo E, Cortiñas JA, Boklund AE, Szczotka-Bochniarz A, Mihalca AD, Mur L, Frant M, Gal-Cisoń A, Kwasnik M, Rozek W, Malakauskas A, Masiulis M, Turcinaviciene J, Chesnoiu T, Jazdzewski K, Rola J, Barbuceanu F, Miranda MÁ, Stegeman JA. Investigating the role of stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) and biting midges of the genus Culicoides as potential mechanical vectors of African swine fever virus in Lithuania, Poland and Romania. Parasit Vectors 2025 Jul 31;18(1):312.
- Hristescu D, Bărbuceanu F, Dascălu L, Nițescu C, Goffredo M, Santilli A, Quaglia M, Balenghien T, Predoi G. Species composition and relative abundance of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Romania. Parasit Vectors 2020 Aug 3;13(1):393.
- Bell-Sakyi L, Mohd Jaafar F, Monsion B, Luu L, Denison E, Carpenter S, Attoui H, Mertens PPC. Continuous Cell Lines from the European Biting Midge Culicoides nubeculosus (Meigen, 1830). Microorganisms 2020 May 30;8(6).
- Kęsik-Maliszewska J, Larska M, Collins ÁB, Rola J. Post-Epidemic Distribution of Schmallenberg Virus in Culicoides Arbovirus Vectors in Poland. Viruses 2019 May 16;11(5).
- Cuéllar AC, Kjær LJ, Kirkeby C, Skovgard H, Nielsen SA, Stockmarr A, Andersson G, Lindstrom A, Chirico J, Lühken R, Steinke S, Kiel E, Gethmann J, Conraths FJ, Larska M, Hamnes I, Sviland S, Hopp P, Brugger K, Rubel F, Balenghien T, Garros C, Rakotoarivony I, Allène X, Lhoir J, Chavernac D, Delécolle JC, Mathieu B, Delécolle D, Setier-Rio ML, Venail R, Scheid B, Chueca MÁM, Barceló C, Lucientes J, Estrada R, Mathis A, Tack W, Bødker R. Spatial and temporal variation in the abundance of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in nine European countries. Parasit Vectors 2018 Feb 27;11(1):112.
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