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Veterinary research2004; 35(3); 325-337; doi: 10.1051/vetres:2004015

Molecular detection of Culicoides spp. and Culicoides imicola, the principal vector of bluetongue (BT) and African horse sickness (AHS) in Africa and Europe.

Abstract: Bluetongue (BT) and African Horse Sickness (AHS) are infectious arthropod-borne viral diseases affecting ruminants and horses, respectively. Culicoides imicola Kieffer, 1913, a biting midge, is the principal vector of these livestock diseases in Africa and Europe. Recently bluetongue disease has re-emerged in the Mediterranean Basin and has had a devastating effect on the sheep industry in Italy and on the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and the Balearics, but fortunately, has not penetrated onto mainland France and Spain. To survey for the presence of C. imicola, an extensive light-trap network for the collection of Culicoides, was implemented in 2002 in southern mainland France. The morphological identification of Culicoides can be both tedious and time-consuming because its size ranges from 1.5 to 3 mm. Therefore, an ITS1 rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assay was developed to rapidly and reliably identify Culicoides spp. and C. imicola. The aim of this work was to set up a rapid test for the detection of C. imicola amongst a pool of insects collected in areas at risk for BT. The sequence similarity of the rDNA (nuclear ribosomal DNA), which is greater within species than between species, is the foundation of its utilisation in species-diagnostic assays. The alignment of the 11 ITS1 sequences of Culicoides obtained from Genbank and EMBL databases helped us to identify one region in the 5' end and one in the 3' end that appear highly conserved. PCR primers were designed within these regions to amplify genus-specific fragments. In order to set up a C. imicola-specific PCR, another forward primer was designed and used in combination with the previously designed reverse primer. These primers proved to be highly specific and sensitive and permitted a rapid diagnostic separation of C. imicola from Culicoides spp.
Copyright 2004 INRA, EDP Sciences
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Publication Date: 2004-06-24 PubMed ID: 15210081DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2004015Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 focuses on developing a rapid identification test for Culicoides imicola, a biting insect responsible for spreading African Horse Sickness and Bluetongue diseases in livestock, using a DNA-based technique, which is vital in controlling and preventing outbreaks of these diseases particularly in susceptible regions.

Background

  • Bluetongue (BT) and African Horse Sickness (AHS) are infectious diseases that impact ruminants and horses respectively. Both are transmitted by Culicoides imicola, a biting midge prevalent in Africa and Europe.
  • Recent re-emergence of Bluetongue in the Mediterranean Basin has had significant effects on the sheep industry. However, the disease has not spread to mainland France and Spain.
  • Efforts to monitor the presence of the biting midge have included creating a light-trap network in southern mainland France in 2002. As traditional methods of identifying Culicoides, based on their morphology, are time-consuming and complex, this research sets out to devise a more efficient identification technique.

The Research

  • The research focuses on the development of an ITS1 rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assay to accurately identify Culicoides imicola among the collected insects. This technique is based on the greater similarity of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) within species than between species, which makes it a useful tool for species diagnostic tests.
  • Data from Genbank and EMBL databases were used to identify regions in the rDNA that are highly conserved, and PCR primers were designed accordingly to isolate genus-specific fragments. In order to specifically identify C. imicola, additional forward primer was designed and used in combination with a prior designed reverse primer.

Results and Implication

  • The primers designed in the study have proven to be both highly specific and sensitive. They allowed for a rapid diagnostic separation of C. imicola from other Culicoides species.
  • The development of this rapid identification method is an important step forward in controlling and preventing the spread of BT and AHS by assisting quick identification and control of the vector Culicoides imicola, especially in areas considered at high risk.

Cite This Article

APA
Cêtre-Sossah C, Baldet T, Delécolle JC, Mathieu B, Perrin A, Grillet C, Albina E. (2004). Molecular detection of Culicoides spp. and Culicoides imicola, the principal vector of bluetongue (BT) and African horse sickness (AHS) in Africa and Europe. Vet Res, 35(3), 325-337. https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2004015

Publication

Veterinary research
ISSN: 0928-4249
NlmUniqueID: 9309551
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 3
Pages: 325-337

Researcher Affiliations

Cêtre-Sossah, Catherine
  • CIRAD-EMVT, Campus international de Baillarguet, TA30/G, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. catherine.cetre-sossah@cirad.fr
Baldet, Thierry
    Delécolle, Jean-Claude
      Mathieu, Bruno
        Perrin, Aurélie
          Grillet, Colette
            Albina, Emmanuel

              MeSH Terms

              • Africa
              • African Horse Sickness / diagnosis
              • African Horse Sickness / epidemiology
              • Animals
              • Base Sequence
              • Ceratopogonidae / genetics
              • Ceratopogonidae / pathogenicity
              • DNA / genetics
              • DNA / isolation & purification
              • Ectoparasitic Infestations / diagnosis
              • Ectoparasitic Infestations / veterinary
              • Europe
              • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
              • Horse Diseases / parasitology
              • Horses
              • Insect Vectors
              • Mediterranean Region / epidemiology
              • Molecular Sequence Data
              • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
              • Sequence Analysis, DNA

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