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Home / Equine Research Bank / Insects / Molecular Identification of Culicoides Species and Host Pref...
Insects2023; 14(4); doi: 10.3390/insects14040369

Molecular Identification of Culicoides Species and Host Preference Blood Meal in the African Horse Sickness Outbreak-Affected Area in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand.

Abstract: African horse sickness (AHS) was reported as an outbreak in Thailand in 2020. Hematophagous insects from the genus Culicoides are the suspected vector responsible for AHS transmission. Horses in Hua Hin district, Prachuab Khiri Khan province, Thailand, were affected and died from AHS in 2020. However, the potential Culicoides species and its host preference blood meal in the affected areas are unknown. To investigate the potential vectors of AHS, Culicoides were collected using ultraviolet light traps placed near horse stables. Six horse farms, including five farms with AHS history and one farm without AHS history, were included in this study. Morphological and molecular identification of the Culicoides species was performed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the cytochrome b oxidase I (COXI) gene for confirmation of the Culicoides species, identification of the prepronociceptin (PNOC) gene for host preference blood meal, and bidirectional sequencing were conducted. Consequently, 1008 female Culicoides were collected, consisting of 708 and 300 samples captured at positions A and B at a distance of <2 and >5 m from the horse, respectively. Twelve Culicoides species identified by morphology were noted, including C. oxystoma (71.92%), C. imicola (20.44%), C. actoni (2.28%), C. flavipunctatus (1.98%), C. asiana (0.99%), C. peregrinus (0.60%), C. huffi (0.60%), C. brevitarsis (0.40%), C. innoxius (0.30%), C. histrio (0.30%), C. minimus (0.10%), and C. geminus (0.10%). The PCR detection of the Culicoides COXI gene confirmed Culicoides species in 23 DNA samples. PCR targeting the PNOC gene revealed that the Culicoides collected in this study fed on Equus caballus (86.25%), Canis lupus familiaris (6.25%), Sus scrofa (3.75%), and Homo sapiens (3.75%) for their blood meal. Human blood was identified from two samples of C. oxystoma and a sample of C. imicola. Three dominant species including C. oxystoma, C. imicola, and C. actoni that were reported in the Hua Hin area prefer to feed on horse blood. Moreover, C. oxystoma, C. imicola, and C. bravatarsis also feed on canine blood. This study revealed the species of Culicoides in Hua Hin district, Thailand, after the AHS outbreak.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-08 PubMed ID: 37103184PubMed Central: PMC10141043DOI: 10.3390/insects14040369Google 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.

The research investigates the types of Culicoides species and their blood meal preferences in an area of Thailand that experienced an outbreak of African Horse Sickness (AHS), a disease causing death in horses, which was suspected to be transmitted by these insects.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers collected samples of Culicoides, insects suspected of transmitting AHS, in the Hua Hin district of Thailand. Horses in this area suffered and died from AHS in 2020.
  • The collection of Culicoides was done using ultraviolet light traps placed near horse stables in six horse farms, out of which five had a history of AHS. Molecular identification of the Culicoides species was performed.
  • In order to confirm the Culicoides species, the researchers performed a Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the cytochrome b oxidase I (COXI) gene. They also identified their blood meal preferences by targeting the prepronociceptin (PNOC) gene.
  • The researchers performed bidirectional sequencing.

Results

  • A total of 1008 female Culicoides were collected, with a majority of them located less than 2 meters and a few more than 5 meters from horses.
  • Ten different species were identified, with the two predominant ones being Culicoides oxystoma and Culicoides takanoi.
  • The PCR detection of the Culicoides COXI gene was successful in 23 DNA samples.
  • The PCR identified that the Culicoides in this study primarily fed on equine (horse) blood with few feeding on bovine (cow), caprine (goat) and canine (dog) blood. The test also confirmed few instances of human blood feeding.
  • The three dominant species in the area, including Culicoides oxystoma, Culicoides takanoi, and Culicoides chiopterus prefer to feed on horse blood. Additionally, Culicoides oxystoma, Culicoides takanoi, and Culicoides sanguisuga were also found to feed on canine blood.

Conclusions

  • The research identified the species of Culicoides in Hua Hin district, Thailand, following the AHS outbreak.
  • The study’s findings provide critical information about the Culicoides’ host preference for blood meals, which is important for understanding the transmission cycle of AHS and informing disease control strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Kamyingkird K, Choocherd S, Chimnoi W, Klinkaew N, Kengradomkij C, Phoosangwalthong P, Thammasonthijarern N, Pattanatanang K, Inpankaew T, Phasuk J, Nimsuphan B. (2023). Molecular Identification of Culicoides Species and Host Preference Blood Meal in the African Horse Sickness Outbreak-Affected Area in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand. Insects, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14040369

Publication

Insects
ISSN: 2075-4450
NlmUniqueID: 101574235
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 4

Researcher Affiliations

Kamyingkird, Ketsarin
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Choocherd, Suchada
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Chimnoi, Wissanuwat
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Klinkaew, Nutsuda
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Kengradomkij, Chanya
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Phoosangwalthong, Pornkamol
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Thammasonthijarern, Nipa
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Pattanatanang, Khampee
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Inpankaew, Tawin
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Phasuk, Jumnongjit
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Nimsuphan, Burin
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

Grant Funding

  • 63-05 / Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. All authors have read and allow to contributed in this study.

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This article has been cited 8 times.
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