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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet J / Climate change: effects on culicoides–transmitted viru...
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2000; 160(2); 107-117; doi: 10.1053/tvjl.2000.0470

Climate change: effects on culicoides–transmitted viruses and implications for the UK.

Abstract: Changes in the distribution and abundance of insects are likely to be amongst the most important and immediate effects of climate change. We review here the risk that climate change poses to the UK's livestock industry via effects on Culicoides biting midges, the vectors of several arboviruses, including those that cause bluetongue (BT) and African horse sickness (AHS). The major old-world vector of BT and AHS viruses, C. imicola, occurs in southern Europe and will spread further north as global temperatures increase. It is unlikely, however, that in the foreseeable future it will reach and become established in the UK. As the distribution of C. imicola moves north, however, it may bring BT and AHS viruses into the range of other Culicoides species that are known to be competent vectors and which occur much further north. Once infected via this 'baton effect', these species may be able to spread the viruses over much of Europe, including the UK. Climate change may increase their vector competence further and will also increase the likelihood of viruses surviving from one year to the next. An additional risk is that the predicted increase in the frequency of short periods of hot temperatures may lead to the creation of novel vector species, by removing the barriers that in colder conditions make them refractory to viral infection.
Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2000-09-14 PubMed ID: 10985802DOI: 10.1053/tvjl.2000.0470Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The study reviews the potential impact of climate change on UK livestock industry by assessing the possible changes in the behaviour and spread of Culicoides biting midges, insects that transmit harmful arboviruses such as Bluetongue and African horse sickness.

Climate Change and Insect Behavior

  • The research underlines the critical effect of climate change on the distribution and abundance of insects, in particular, the Culicoides biting midges.
  • Changes in climatic conditions, notably temperature increase, can trigger these disease-carrying insects to move further north from their typical habitats of southern Europe.
  • This study focuses on the potential risks posed by these shifts to the UK’s livestock industry as these midges are vectors for diseases such as Bluetongue (BT) and African Horse Sickness (AHS).

The ‘Baton Effect’ and Disease Spread

  • The paper introduces the concept of the ‘baton effect.’ As the primary vector for BT and AHS, C. imicola, moves north due to rising temperatures, it can bring viruses into the range of other Culicoides species that are further north.
  • These other species, once infected, can then carry and potentially spread these diseases across large parts of Europe, including the UK. This indirect means of spreading the diseases is referred to as the ‘baton effect.’

Climate Change, Vector Competence, and Virus Survival

  • In addition to affecting the distribution of these vectors, climate change can also increase their vector competence. The warmer conditions may enable them to become more efficient at transmitting the BT and AHS viruses.
  • Rising temperatures also potentially increase the likelihood of these viruses surviving from one year to the next.

Creation of Novel Vector Species

  • The research also hypothesizes that the increase in frequency of short periods of hot temperatures could lead to the creation of novel vector species.
  • In colder conditions, certain barriers prevent these species from being susceptible to viral infections. Warmer conditions could eliminate these barriers, resulting in these species becoming new vectors for these diseases.

Cite This Article

APA
Wittmann EJ, Baylis M. (2000). Climate change: effects on culicoides–transmitted viruses and implications for the UK. Vet J, 160(2), 107-117. https://doi.org/10.1053/tvjl.2000.0470

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1090-0233
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 160
Issue: 2
Pages: 107-117

Researcher Affiliations

Wittmann, E J
  • Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Pirbright, UK.
Baylis, M

    MeSH Terms

    • African Horse Sickness / transmission
    • Animals
    • Bluetongue / transmission
    • Ceratopogonidae
    • Climate
    • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
    • Greenhouse Effect
    • Horses
    • Humans
    • Insect Vectors
    • Population Dynamics
    • Sheep
    • United Kingdom / epidemiology

    References

    This article includes 103 references

    Citations

    This article has been cited 33 times.
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