Equine Culicoides hypersensitivity in Florida: biting midges collected in light traps near horses.
Abstract: Twenty-three species of Culicoides were trapped near pruritic horses during a 2-year survey in Florida. Nearly 99% of the biting midges collected were represented by Culicoides insignis Lutz, C. edeni Wirth and Blandon, C. stellifer (Coquillett), C. niger Root and Hoffman, C. haematopotus Malloch and C. venustus Hoffman. The relative contribution to the total catch by each of these species varied among collection sites. Seasonally, different species attain their largest population sizes at different times. Association of species collected in light traps with the seasonality of lesion development on the horses suggests that more than one species must be involved in causing Culicoides hypersensitivity in horses from Florida. Nulliparous females were present in most months that females of the same species were active; in some cases, species were trapped in each month of the year, particularly at the more southerly sites. The species of biting midge most likely to be involved in Culicoides hypersensitivity in horses in Florida are C. insignis, C. stellifer and C. venustus based upon their mammalophilic behaviour and seasonality.
Publication Date: 1988-04-01 PubMed ID: 2980168DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.1988.tb00062.xGoogle 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
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
- Animal Science
- Animal Studies
- Culicoides
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Surveillance
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Horses
- Insect Bite Hypersensitivity
- Public Health
- Seasonal Variation
- Vector-borne disease
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
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 paper studies the connection between different species of Culicoides (biting midges) found in Florida and instances of hypersensitivity in horses. The researchers discovered that the prevalence of certain midge species varies according to both geographical location and season, suggesting that multiple species may be responsible for causing hypersensitivity in horses.
Research Study & Methodology
- The study was conducted over a two-year period in Florida, during which 23 species of Culicoides were trapped near horses exhibiting signs of pruritus (itchy skin).
- Close to 99% of the midges collected were represented by six main species: Culicoides insignis Lutz, C. edeni Wirth and Blandon, C. stellifer (Coquillett), C. niger Root and Hoffman, C. haematopotus Malloch and C. venustus Hoffman.
- The data collected revealed that the relative contribution of each species to the total catch varied among collection sites. This suggests a geographical variability in midge prevalence.
Role of Seasons and Multiple Species
- The researchers observed that different species reached their largest population sizes at different times throughout the year. This indicates seasonal variability in midge prevalence.
- An association was found between the species collected in light traps and the seasonality of lesions on horses, which points towards more than one species being involved in causing Culicoides hypersensitivity in horses in Florida. In other words, the hypersensitivity in horses may be attributed to different species of Culicoides at different times of the year.
Nulliparous Females and Observed Presence
- Nulliparous female midges (those which have not yet laid eggs) were present in most months that females of the same species were active. In some instances, certain species were caught throughout each month of the year, particularly at southernly locations.
- This information suggests that reproductive cycles of midges may also play a role in horse hypersensitivity patterns.
Conclusion & Likely Culprits
- Based on their mammalophilic behaviour (preference for feeding on mammals) and seasonality, the species most likely to be involved in Culicoides hypersensitivity in horses in Florida are considered to be C. insignis, C. stellifer and C. venustus. Therefore, it is suggested that specific preventative measures be implemented to control these species to reduce horse hypersensitivity instances.
Cite This Article
APA
Greiner EC, Fadok VA, Rabin EB.
(1988).
Equine Culicoides hypersensitivity in Florida: biting midges collected in light traps near horses.
Med Vet Entomol, 2(2), 129-135.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.1988.tb00062.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Ceratopogonidae / growth & development
- Ceratopogonidae / immunology
- Female
- Florida
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Pruritus / parasitology
- Pruritus / veterinary
- Seasons
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- McGregor BL, Rozo-Lopez P, Davis TM, Drolet BS. Detection of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Indiana from Insects Collected during the 2020 Outbreak in Kansas, USA. Pathogens 2021 Sep 2;10(9).
- Nelder MP, Swanson DA, Adler PH, Grogan WL. Biting midges of the genus Culicoides in South Carolina zoos. J Insect Sci 2010;10:55.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
