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Medical and veterinary entomology2026; doi: 10.1111/mve.70061

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) feeding on donkeys in the United Kingdom, with reference to the risk of transmission and persistence of African horse sickness virus.

Abstract: African horse sickness virus (AHSV: Sedoreoviridae; Orbivirus) causes a severe and often fatal disease in horses (African horse sickness: AHS) and is transmitted almost exclusively by Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). In recent years, unprecedented outbreaks of AHSV have occurred in new geographical foci in Thailand and other related Culicoides-borne viruses continue to emerge unexpectedly, causing disease outbreaks in northern Europe. This study investigated Culicoides abundance and diversity at a donkey (Equus asinus) sanctuary in southern England. The incidence and severity of AHS in infected donkeys are lower than in horses, with concerns, therefore, that these species could act as potential reservoirs in the event of an incursion of AHSV. A total of 21,350 Culicoides of 20 species were collected over 14 nights during spring and summer 2019 using three Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute ultraviolet light-suction traps. The most abundant species were identified within the subgenus Avaritia (19,574; 91.7%), which are known vectors of other Orbiviruses in northern Europe and have been previously identified as putative vectors of AHSV in southern Europe. Furthermore, Culicoides blood-feeding on donkeys was confirmed for the subgenus Avaritia through polymerase chain reaction of blood-fed female Culicoides using a 685 bp region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Data on the size and distribution of the donkey population and the potential impact of infection with AHSV on donkeys within the United Kingdom are scarce. This study demonstrates that large populations of Culicoides can exist near these hosts and that they regularly take blood meals from them. There is a potential risk that donkeys could play a significant role in transmission and persistence of AHSV in the event of an incursion into the United Kingdom, which could complicate disease control.
© 2026 The Author(s). Medical and Veterinary Entomology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Entomological Society.
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Publication Date: 2026-03-20 PubMed ID: 41863060DOI: 10.1111/mve.70061Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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Overview

  • This study investigated the presence and feeding behavior of Culicoides biting midges on donkeys in southern England, assessing the risk of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) transmission and persistence if introduced into the United Kingdom.
  • It found that large populations of known AHSV vector midges feed on donkeys, suggesting that donkeys could play a role in virus maintenance and spread, potentially complicating disease control efforts.

Introduction and Background

  • African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is a viral disease causing severe and often fatal illness in horses (African horse sickness, AHS).
  • The virus is primarily transmitted by Culicoides biting midges, tiny flying insects belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae.
  • Recent AHSV outbreaks have expanded into new regions like Thailand, and related midge-borne viruses have caused outbreaks in northern Europe.
  • Donkeys display lower incidence and severity of AHS compared to horses, raising concerns that donkeys might act as reservoir hosts that harbor and maintain the virus without severe symptoms.
  • Understanding the interaction between Culicoides midges and donkeys is essential to assessing AHSV risk in areas like the UK where the virus is not yet present.

Study Objectives

  • To investigate the abundance and diversity of Culicoides midges at a donkey sanctuary in southern England.
  • To confirm whether Culicoides midges feed on donkeys by identifying blood meals in captured insects.
  • To assess implications for the potential role of donkeys in AHSV transmission and persistence should the virus enter the UK.

Methods

  • Fieldwork was conducted during spring and summer 2019 over 14 nights at a sanctuary housing donkeys.
  • Three Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute ultraviolet light-suction traps were deployed to capture biting midges.
  • A total of 21,350 midges were collected and identified to species level.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze blood-fed female midges, targeting a 685 base pair region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene to determine the host species of their blood meal.

Results

  • A total of 20 different Culicoides species were collected, totaling 21,350 individuals.
  • The majority (91.7%, 19,574 individuals) belonged to the subgenus Avaritia.
  • Avaritia midges are recognized vectors for other Orbiviruses in northern Europe and have been implicated as possible vectors of AHSV in southern Europe.
  • PCR analysis confirmed blood meals from donkeys in females of the Avaritia subgenus, definitively showing these midges feed on donkeys.

Implications and Significance

  • Large populations of Culicoides vectors are present near donkeys in the UK, and they feed on these animals regularly.
  • Since donkeys exhibit lower disease severity, there is concern that they could serve as a silent reservoir for AHSV, facilitating virus transmission and persistence without easily detectable outbreaks.
  • This could complicate disease surveillance and control efforts if AHSV were introduced to the UK, affecting both donkey welfare and the broader equine population.
  • Because data on the size, distribution, and epidemiological role of the UK donkey population are limited, further research is needed to assess this risk in detail.

Conclusion

  • This study highlights the presence of competent AHSV vector midges around donkeys and confirms they take blood meals from donkeys in a UK setting.
  • Donkeys may play a meaningful role in AHSV transmission cycles in the UK, posing a potential biosecurity risk that should be considered in disease preparedness planning.

Cite This Article

APA
Langlands Z, Gubbins S, Carpenter S, England M. (2026). Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) feeding on donkeys in the United Kingdom, with reference to the risk of transmission and persistence of African horse sickness virus. Med Vet Entomol. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.70061

Publication

Medical and veterinary entomology
ISSN: 1365-2915
NlmUniqueID: 8708682
Country: England
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Langlands, Zoe
  • The Pirbright Institute, Surrey, UK.
Gubbins, Simon
  • The Pirbright Institute, Surrey, UK.
Carpenter, Simon
  • The Pirbright Institute, Surrey, UK.
England, Marion
  • The Pirbright Institute, Surrey, UK.

Grant Funding

  • UK Research and Innovation
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government

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