FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Parasitology research2015; 114(8); 3151-3158; doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4534-8

Circadian activity of Culicoides oxystoma (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), potential vector of bluetongue and African horse sickness viruses in the Niayes area, Senegal.

Abstract: Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are important vectors of arboviruses in Africa. Culicoides oxystoma has been recently recorded in the Niayes region of Senegal (West Africa) and its high abundance on horses suggests a potential implication in the transmission of the African horse sickness virus in this region. This species is also suspected to transmit bluetongue virus to imported breeds of sheep. Little information is available on the biology and ecology of Culicoides in Africa. Therefore, understanding the circadian host-seeking activity of this putative vector is of primary importance to assess the risk of the transmission of Culicoides-borne pathogens. To achieve this objective, midges were collected using a sheep-baited trap over two consecutive 24-h periods during four seasons in 2012. A total of 441 Culicoides, belonging to nine species including 418 (94.8%) specimens of C. oxystoma, were collected. C. oxystoma presented a bimodal circadian host-seeking activity at sunrise and sunset in July and was active 3 h after sunrise in April. Daily activity appeared mainly related to time periods. Morning activity increased with the increasing temperature up to about 27 °C and then decreased with the decreasing humidity, suggesting thermal limits for C. oxystoma activity. Evening activity increased with the increasing humidity and the decreasing temperature, comprised between 20 and 27 °C according to seasons. Interestingly, males were more abundant in our sampling sessions, with similar activity periods than females, suggesting potential animal host implication in the facilitation of reproduction. Finally, the low number of C. oxystoma collected render practical vector-control recommendations difficult to provide and highlight the lack of knowledge on the bio-ecology of this species of veterinary interest.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2015-05-24 PubMed ID: 26002826PubMed Central: PMC4513201DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4534-8Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research delves into the circadian activity of Culicoides oxystoma, a type of biting midge found in the Niayes region of Senegal. This species is suspected of transmitting viruses such as bluetongue and African horse sickness, with the study indicating its activity is influenced by temperature and humidity. However, attempts at controlling this vector are hampered by the scarcity of detailed knowledge on its bio-ecology.

Introduction and Background

  • The paper examines the behavior and potential threat of Culicoides oxystoma, a species of biting midges commonly found in the Niayes area of Senegal, West Africa.
  • Of importance is the species’ suspected role in transmitting viral diseases such as African horse sickness and bluetongue to key local species, including horses and sheep, which necessitates a deeper understanding of its behavior and ecology.
  • Existing data on the biology and ecology of Culicoides species in Africa are scarce, making studies like this crucial.

Research Methodology

  • Researchers collected midges during two consecutive 24-hour periods across four seasons in 2012 using a sheep-baited trap.
  • Out of 441 collected samples, 94.8% were C. oxystoma species, making it the most common among the nine species collected.

Findings

  • C. oxystoma exhibited a bimodal circadian host-seeking activity. Meaning, they were most active during sunrise and sunset in July and active 3 hours after sunrise in April.
  • These daily activities showed high correlation with temperature and humidity: increasing activity with increasing temperature up to about 27°C and then decreasing with decreasing humidity.
  • Evening activity patterns similarly correlated with the environment, increasing with rising humidity and decreasing temperatures, ranging between 20°C and 27°C depending on the season.
  • Interestingly, male C. oxystoma were more abundant than females during sampling sessions and exhibited similar activity periods, suggesting animal hosts facilitate reproduction.

Conclusion

  • The research provides insight into the behavior of a highly likely vector of veterinary diseases in the region, connecting its activity to climatic parameters such as temperature and humidity.
  • The small number of C. oxystoma collected, however, underscores the difficulty of issuing practical vector control recommendations and highlights the urgent need for further research on the bio-ecology of this species.

Cite This Article

APA
Fall M, Fall AG, Seck MT, Bouyer J, Diarra M, Balenghien T, Garros C, Bakhoum MT, Faye O, Baldet T, Gimonneau G. (2015). Circadian activity of Culicoides oxystoma (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), potential vector of bluetongue and African horse sickness viruses in the Niayes area, Senegal. Parasitol Res, 114(8), 3151-3158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4534-8

Publication

Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
NlmUniqueID: 8703571
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 114
Issue: 8
Pages: 3151-3158

Researcher Affiliations

Fall, Moussa
  • Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires, Route du Front de Terre, BP 2057, Dakar, Senegal.
Fall, Assane G
    Seck, Momar T
      Bouyer, Jérémy
        Diarra, Maryam
          Balenghien, Thomas
            Garros, Claire
              Bakhoum, Mame T
                Faye, Ousmane
                  Baldet, Thierry
                    Gimonneau, Geoffrey

                      MeSH Terms

                      • African Horse Sickness Virus / physiology
                      • Animals
                      • Bluetongue virus / physiology
                      • Ceratopogonidae / physiology
                      • Ceratopogonidae / virology
                      • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
                      • Female
                      • Humidity
                      • Insect Vectors / physiology
                      • Insect Vectors / virology
                      • Male
                      • Seasons
                      • Senegal

                      References

                      This article includes 40 references
                      1. Akakpo AJ, Wombou Toukam CM, Mankor A, Ly C. Impact economique de l’epizootie de peste equine de 2007 au Senegal. Bull Anim Health Prod Afr 2011;59:1–16.
                      2. Auriault M. Contribution à l’étude biologique et écologique de Culicoides grahamii (Austen), 1909, (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) I. Rythme d’activité des femelles. Cah ORSTOM Ser Entomol Med Parasitol 1977;15:171–176.
                      3. Bakhoum MT. First record of Culicoides oxystoma Kieffer and diversity of species within the Schultzei group of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges in Senegal. PLoS ONE 2013;8.
                        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084316pmc: PMC3875552pubmed: 24386366google scholar: lookup
                      4. Blackwell A. Diel flight periodicity of the biting midge Culicoides impunctatus and the effects of meteorological conditions. Med Vet Entomol 1997;11:361–367.
                        doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.1997.tb00423.xpubmed: 9430116google scholar: lookup
                      5. Boorman J. Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the Arabian Peninsula with notes on their medical and veterinary importance. Fauna Saudi Arab 1979;10:160–224.
                      6. Boorman J, Dipeolu OO. A taxonomic study of adult Nigerian Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogoaidae) species. Occ Publ Ent Soc Nigeria 1979;22:1–121.
                      7. Campbell MM, Kettle DS. Swarming of Culicoides brevitarsis Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) with reference to markers, swarm size, proximity of cattle, and weather. Aust J Zool 1979;27:17–30.
                        doi: 10.1071/ZO9790017google scholar: lookup
                      8. Carpenter S, Mellor PS, Torr SJ. Control techniques for Culicoides biting midges and their application in the U.K. and northwestern Palaearctic. Med Vet Entomol 2008;22:175–187.
                        doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00743.xpubmed: 18816267google scholar: lookup
                      9. Cornet M, Brunhes J. Révision des espèces de Culicoides apparentées à C. shultzei (Enderleini, 1908) dans la région afro-tropicale (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Bull Soc Entomol Fr 1994;92:149–164.
                      10. Cornet M, Nevill EM, Walker AR. Notes sur les Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), du groupe de C. milnei Auten, 1909, en Afrique orientale et australe. Cah ORSTOM Ser Entomol Med Parasitol 1974;12:231–243.
                      11. Curasson G. Introduction de la bluetongue en Afrique Occidentale Française. Bull Soc Pathol Exot Fil 1925;18:235–238.
                      12. Dadawala AI. Isolation of bluetongue virus serotype 1 from Culicoides vector captured in livestock farms and sequence analysis of the viral genome segment-2. Transbound Emerg Dis 2012;59:361–368.
                        doi: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2011.01279.xpubmed: 22151923google scholar: lookup
                      13. Diarra M. Seasonal dynamics of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges, potential vectors of African horse sickness and bluetongue viruses in the Niayes area of Senegal. Parasit Vectors 2014;7:147.
                        doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-147pmc: PMC3973751pubmed: 24690198google scholar: lookup
                      14. Downes JA. The swarming and mating flight of Diptera. Annu Rev Entomol 1969;14:271–298.
                        doi: 10.1146/annurev.en.14.010169.001415google scholar: lookup
                      15. Dyce AL. The recognition of nulliparous and parous Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) without dissection. J Aust Entomol Soc 1969;8:11–15.
                        doi: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1969.tb00727.xgoogle scholar: lookup
                      16. El Sinnary KA, Muller R, Atta El Mannan A, Hussein SH. The diurnal activity of Culicoides kingi in northern Sudan. Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop 1985;38:270–275.
                        pubmed: 3841964
                      17. Fall M. Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) midges, the vectors of African horse sickness virus—a host/vector contact study in the Niayes area of Senegal. Parasit Vectors 2015;8:39.
                        doi: 10.1186/s13071-014-0624-1pmc: PMC4307892pubmed: 25604465google scholar: lookup
                      18. Gerry AC, Mullens BA. Response of male Culicoides variipennis sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to carbon dioxide and observations of mating behavior on and near cattle. J Med Entomol 1998;35:239–244.
                        doi: 10.1093/jmedent/35.3.239pubmed: 9615541google scholar: lookup
                      19. Glick JI. Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Kenya. J Med Entomol 1990;27:85–195.
                        doi: 10.1093/jmedent/27.2.85pubmed: 2093769google scholar: lookup
                      20. Itoua A, Cornet M, Vattier-Bernard G, Trouillet J. The Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Central Africa. Cah ORSTOM Ser Ent Med Parasitol 1987:127–134.
                      21. Kurogi H, Akiba K, Inaba Y, Matumoto M. Isolation of Akabane virus from the biting midge Culicoides oxystoma in Japan. Vet Microbiol 1987;15:243–248.
                        doi: 10.1016/0378-1135(87)90078-2pubmed: 3124329google scholar: lookup
                      22. Lefèvre PC, Taylor WP. Situation épidémiologique de la fièvre catarrhale ovine (bluetongue) au Sénégal. Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop 1983;36:241–245.
                        pubmed: 6324302
                      23. Mehlhorn H. First occurrence of Culicoides obsoletus-transmitted bluetongue virus epidemic in Central Europe. Parasitol Res 2007;101:219–228.
                        doi: 10.1007/s00436-007-0519-6pubmed: 17385085google scholar: lookup
                      24. Meiswinkel R. Afrotropical Culicoides: a redescription of C. (avaritia) imicola Kieffer, 1913 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) with description of the closely allied C. (a.) Bolitinos sp. Nov. reared from the dung of the African buffalo, blue wildebeest and cattle in South Africa. Onderstepoort J Vet Res 1989;56:23–39.
                        pubmed: 2726191
                      25. Meiswinkel R. Afrotropical Culicoides: C. (avaritia) miombo sp. nov., a widespread species closely allied to C. (a.) imicola Kieffer, 1913 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Onderstepoort J Vet Res 1991;58:155–170.
                        pubmed: 1923378
                      26. Meiswinkel R, Baylis M, Labuschagne K. Stabling and the protection of horses from Culicoides bolitinos (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a recently identified vector of African horse sickness. Bull Entomol Res 2000;90(6):509–515.
                        pubmed: 11107252
                      27. Mellor PS, Boorman J, Baylis M. Culicoides biting midges: their role as arbovirus vectors. Annu Rev Entomol 2000;45:307–340.
                        doi: 10.1146/annurev.ento.45.1.307pubmed: 10761580google scholar: lookup
                      28. Morag N, Saroya Y, Braverman Y, Klement E, Gottlieb Y. Molecular identification, phylogenetic status, and geographic distribution of Culicoides oxystoma (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Israel. PLoS ONE 2012;7.
                        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033610pmc: PMC3306425pubmed: 22438964google scholar: lookup
                      29. R_Development_Core_Team. R: a language and environment for statistical computing. 2009.
                      30. Rawlings P, Snow WF, Boorman J, Denison E, Hamblin C, Mellor PS. Culicoides in relation to transmission of African horse sickness virus in the Gambia. Med Vet Entomol 1998;12:155–159.
                        doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2915.1998.00094.xpubmed: 9622369google scholar: lookup
                      31. Schmidtmann ET, Valla ME, Abend JA. Nocturnal blood-feeding from pastured calves by the Ceratopogonid midge, Culicoides venustus, in New York state. Mosq News 1980;40:571–577.
                      32. Service MW. Studies on the biting habits of Culicoides impunctatus Goetghebuer, C. obsoletus (Meigen) and C. punctatus (Meigen) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Southern England. Proc Entomol Soc Land 1969;44:1–10.
                      33. Tsutsui T, Hayama Y, Yamakawa M, Shirafuji H, Yanase T. Flight behavior of adult Culicoides oxystoma and Culicoides maculatus under different temperatures in the laboratory. Parasitol Res 2011;108:1575–1578.
                        doi: 10.1007/s00436-010-2048-ypubmed: 20852889google scholar: lookup
                      34. Viennet E. Assessment of vector/host contact: comparison of animal-baited traps and UV-light/suction trap for collecting Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), vectors of Orbiviruses. Parasit Vectors 2011;4:119.
                        doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-119pmc: PMC3145584pubmed: 21707980google scholar: lookup
                      35. Viennet E. Host-seeking activity of bluetongue virus vectors: endo/exophagy and circadian rhythm of Culicoides in Western Europe. PLoS ONE 2012;7.
                        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048120pmc: PMC3483221pubmed: 23144735google scholar: lookup
                      36. Walker AR. Seasonal fluctuactions of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Kenya. Bull Entomol Res 1977;67:217–233.
                        doi: 10.1017/S0007485300011032google scholar: lookup
                      37. Wirth W, Marston N. A method for mounting small insects on microscope slides in Canada balsam. Ann Entomol Soc Am 1968;61:783–784.
                        doi: 10.1093/aesa/61.3.783google scholar: lookup
                      38. Yanase T. Isolation of bovine Arboviruses from Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in southern Japan: 1985–2002. J Med Entomol 2005;42:63–67.
                        pubmed: 15691010
                      39. Zimmer JY. Contribution à l’étude écologique des larves du genre Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), comprenant les espèces vectrices de la fièvre catarrhale ovine (Bluetongue). 2007.
                      40. Zimmer JY, Losson B, Haubruge E. Biologie et écologie des Culicoïdes (Diptera), vecteurs de la fièvre catarrhale ovine. Entomolo Faunistique 2008;61:53–57.

                      Citations

                      This article has been cited 10 times.
                      1. Li ZH, Wang YN, Deng JM, Li L, Yang LJ, Chen XQ, Wang WH, Lu FY, Tang ZJ, Wang DM, Duan YL. Searching for potential Culicoides vectors of four orbiviruses in Yunnan Province, China. Parasit Vectors 2025 Feb 24;18(1):73.
                        doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06679-1pubmed: 39994809google scholar: lookup
                      2. Söderroos D, Ignell R, Haubro Andersen P, Bergvall K, Riihimäki M. The Effect of Insect Bite Hypersensitivity on Movement Activity and Behaviour of the Horse. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 8;13(8).
                        doi: 10.3390/ani13081283pubmed: 37106846google scholar: lookup
                      3. Kamyingkird K, Choocherd S, Chimnoi W, Klinkaew N, Kengradomkij C, Phoosangwalthong P, Thammasonthijarern N, Pattanatanang K, Inpankaew T, Phasuk J, Nimsuphan B. Molecular Identification of Culicoides Species and Host Preference Blood Meal in the African Horse Sickness Outbreak-Affected Area in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand. Insects 2023 Apr 8;14(4).
                        doi: 10.3390/insects14040369pubmed: 37103184google scholar: lookup
                      4. Ciss M, Biteye B, Fall AG, Fall M, Gahn MCB, Leroux L, Apolloni A. Ecological niche modelling to estimate the distribution of Culicoides, potential vectors of bluetongue virus in Senegal. BMC Ecol 2019 Nov 1;19(1):45.
                        doi: 10.1186/s12898-019-0261-9pubmed: 31676006google scholar: lookup
                      5. Haider N, Kjær LJ, Skovgård H, Nielsen SA, Bødker R. Quantifying the potential for bluetongue virus transmission in Danish cattle farms. Sci Rep 2019 Sep 17;9(1):13466.
                        doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49866-8pubmed: 31530858google scholar: lookup
                      6. Venter GJ, Boikanyo SNB, de Beer CJ. The influence of temperature and humidity on the flight activity of Culicoides imicola both under laboratory and field conditions. Parasit Vectors 2019 Jan 3;12(1):4.
                        doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-3272-zpubmed: 30606269google scholar: lookup
                      7. Bakhoum MT, Sarr M, Fall AG, Huber K, Fall M, Sembène M, Seck MT, Labuschagne K, Gardès L, Ciss M, Gimonneau G, Bouyer J, Baldet T, Garros C. DNA barcoding and molecular identification of field-collected Culicoides larvae in the Niayes area of Senegal. Parasit Vectors 2018 Dec 3;11(1):615.
                        doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-3176-ypubmed: 30509304google scholar: lookup
                      8. Diarra M, Fall M, Fall AG, Diop A, Lancelot R, Seck MT, Rakotoarivony I, Allène X, Bouyer J, Guis H. Spatial distribution modelling of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges, potential vectors of African horse sickness and bluetongue viruses in Senegal. Parasit Vectors 2018 Jun 8;11(1):341.
                        doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2920-7pubmed: 29884209google scholar: lookup
                      9. Haider N, Cuellar AC, Kjær LJ, Sørensen JH, Bødker R. Microclimatic temperatures at Danish cattle farms, 2000-2016: quantifying the temporal and spatial variation in the transmission potential of Schmallenberg virus. Parasit Vectors 2018 Mar 5;11(1):128.
                        doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2709-8pubmed: 29506571google scholar: lookup
                      10. Bakhoum MT, Fall AG, Fall M, Bassene CK, Baldet T, Seck MT, Bouyer J, Garros C, Gimonneau G. Insight on the larval habitat of Afrotropical Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in the Niayes area of Senegal, West Africa. Parasit Vectors 2016 Aug 22;9(1):462.
                        doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1749-1pubmed: 27549191google scholar: lookup
                      Subscribe to our newsletter
                      Join 99,658 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.