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Comparison of two trapping methods for Culicoides biting midges and determination of African horse sickness virus prevalence in midge populations at Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Abstract: Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of a variety of pathogens including African horse sickness virus (AHSV), a member of the family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus. AHSV causes African horse sickness (AHS), an endemic disease of equids with an extremely high mortality rate in horses in sub-Saharan Africa. Culicoides (Avaritia) imicola Kieffer is considered to be the principal vector of AHSV and is the dominant Culicoides species in South Africa. Due to the global distribution of Culicoides vectors, there is a potential risk of AHS spreading from endemic areas to areas traditionally free of the disease, which could have a severe economical impact on the affected equine industry. As part of any risk assessment it is essential to monitor known vectors as well as potential vector species. In the present study, sampling of Culicoides insects was compared using overnight collections in the conventional Onderstepoort light trap and mechanical aspiration of midges at sunset from bait horses. Culicoides imicola was confirmed as the predominant species using both trapping methods. Other species, mainly Culicoides (Avaritia) bolitinos Meiswinkel and Culicoides (Avaritia) gulbenkiani Caeiro, were highly underrepresented in the light trap collections, but made a significant contribution to the mechanical aspiration catches. The time for optimal collection differed between the trapping methods, leading to the conclusion that mechanical aspiration is a useful addition to conventional light trap collection and possibly the better choice when investigating insect vectors. An infection rate of 1.14% was calculated for the midge population based on real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays of collected Culicoides midges, which exceeds previous estimates. This is probably due to the increased sensitivity of the RT-qPCR assay used in this study as compared to the virus isolation assays used in previous studies. RT-qPCR-positive midges were present in midge pools obtained from both light trap and mechanical aspiration. Seven of the positive pools consisted of C. imicola only, four contained mixed species and one pool contained no C. imicola, suggesting the presence of AHSV in midges of other species.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2011-10-01 PubMed ID: 22014560DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.09.037Google 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.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article outlines the comparison of two methods used to trap Culicoides biting midges, insects that carry a virus causing a deadly disease for horses in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study investigates the prevalence of the virus within midge populations in Onderstepoort, South Africa.
About the Study
- The research aims to compare two different trapping methods for Culicoides biting midges. These insects typically carry African horse sickness virus (AHSV), which causes African horse sickness (AHS), a fatal disease for horses.
- The disease is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Culicoides (Avaritia) imicola Kieffer is one midge species that typically carries this virus and is dominant in South Africa.
- The global distribution of Culicoides vectors carries potential risk for the disease spreading from endemic areas to traditionally disease-free areas which can lead to severe economic consequences for the equine industry.
- In order to carry out effective risk management, the monitoring of known vectors as well as potential vector species is essential. This study contributes to this essential factor.
Methodology and Findings
- The researchers compared overnight collections in the conventional Onderstepoort light trap and mechanical aspiration of midges from bait horses at sunset.
- Culicoides imicola was the predominant species caught using both trapping methods. Although other species were rarely trapped using the light method, they were significantly present when the mechanical aspiration technique was used.
- The time frame for optimal collection differed between the trapping methods, suggesting that mechanical aspiration could be a better choice when investigating insect vectors as it provides a more varied sample of species.
Virus Prevalence in Investigated Population
- The study calculated a 1.14% infection rate for the midge population based on RT-qPCR assays. This exceeds previous estimates, primarily due to the sensitivity of the RT-qPCR assay compared to isolation assays used in past research.
- RT-qPCR-positive midges were found in both light trap and mechanical aspiration. Interestingly, the study found that not only C. imicola carried the disease, but other species were also found to be AHSV positive which suggests their potential role in the spread of the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Scheffer EG, Venter GJ, Labuschagne K, Page PC, Mullens BA, MacLachlan NJ, Osterrieder N, Guthrie AJ.
(2011).
Comparison of two trapping methods for Culicoides biting midges and determination of African horse sickness virus prevalence in midge populations at Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Vet Parasitol, 185(2-4), 265-273.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.09.037 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
MeSH Terms
- African Horse Sickness / blood
- African Horse Sickness / epidemiology
- African Horse Sickness / virology
- African Horse Sickness Virus / isolation & purification
- Animals
- Ceratopogonidae / physiology
- Ceratopogonidae / virology
- Horses
- Insect Control / instrumentation
- Insect Control / methods
- Insect Vectors
- South Africa / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Blitvich BJ. The Role of Hematophagous Arthropods, Other than Mosquitoes and Ticks, in Arbovirus Transmission. Viruses 2025 Jun 30;17(7).
- Ogola EO, Bastos ADS, Slothouwer I, Getugi C, Osalla J, Omoga DCA, Ondifu DO, Sang R, Torto B, Junglen S, Tchouassi DP. Viral diversity and blood-feeding patterns of Afrotropical Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Front Microbiol 2023;14:1325473.
- Brown-Joseph T, Oura CAL, Carrington CVF, Harrup LE. Comparison of surveillance trapping methods to monitor Culicoides biting midge activity in Trinidad, West Indies. Med Vet Entomol 2022 Dec;36(4):456-468.
- Aguilar-Vega C, Bosch J, Fernández-Carrión E, Lucientes J, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Identifying Spanish Areas at More Risk of Monthly BTV Transmission with a Basic Reproduction Number Approach. Viruses 2020 Oct 13;12(10).
- 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.
- Steyn J, Venter GJ, Labuschagne K, Majatladi D, Boikanyo SN, Lourens C, Ebersohn K, Venter EH. Possible over-wintering of bluetongue virus in Culicoides populations in the Onderstepoort area, Gauteng, South Africa. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2016 Oct 31;87(1):e1-e5.
- Fall M, Diarra M, Fall AG, Balenghien T, Seck MT, Bouyer J, Garros C, Gimonneau G, Allène X, Mall I, Delécolle JC, Rakotoarivony I, Bakhoum MT, Dusom AM, Ndao M, Konaté L, Faye O, Baldet T. 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 Jan 21;8:39.
- Thompson GM, Jess S, Gordon AW, Murchie AK. Sticky-trapping biting midges (Culicoides spp.) alighting on cattle and sheep: effects of trap colour and evidence for host preference. Parasitol Res 2014 Aug;113(8):3085-94.
- Diarra M, Fall M, Fall AG, Diop A, Seck MT, Garros C, Balenghien T, Allène X, Rakotoarivony I, Lancelot R, Mall I, Bakhoum MT, Dosum AM, Ndao M, Bouyer J, Guis H. 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 Mar 31;7:147.
- Lo Iacono G, Robin CA, Newton JR, Gubbins S, Wood JL. Where are the horses? With the sheep or cows? Uncertain host location, vector-feeding preferences and the risk of African horse sickness transmission in Great Britain. J R Soc Interface 2013 Jun 6;10(83):20130194.
- Pérez JM, García-Ballester JA, López-Olvera JR, Serrano E. Monitoring bluetongue virus vectors in Andalusia (SW Europe): Culicoides species composition and factors affecting capture rates of the biting midge Culicoides imicola. Parasitol Res 2012 Sep;111(3):1267-75.
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