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Preferential landing and engorging sites of Culicoides species landing on a horse in Ireland.
Abstract: An investigation of the landing and engorging sites of midges on a bait horse was made in Ireland as part of a project examining the aetiology of sweet itch. Ten species were recovered, seven of which engorged. Culicoides obsoletus and C dewulfi were the most commonly represented, accounting for 89.9 per cent of midges landing and 90.5 per cent of midges engorging. Only 4.69 per cent of midges attracted to the bait were C pulicaris. Overall, the preferential landing sites for midges were along the mane and lower leg regions. Few culicoides were attracted to the head, front and underside of the animal. Two species, C punctatus and C nubeculosus, fed exclusively at the predilection sites of sweet itch but in very small numbers. C pulicaris fed predominantly at these sites also and represented 5.08 per cent of the engorging catch. Of 10,178 midges attracted to the bait, 4097 (40.3 per cent) engorged; the majority of the species taking full blood meals fed on the mane and lower legs. Midges biting in other areas tended to have smaller meals. Areas along the dorsal midline of the body are predilection sites for sweet itch lesions and are preferential engorging sites also. However, considerable engorgement occurred on the lower legs where sweet itch lesions do not occur.
Publication Date: 1984-03-01 PubMed ID: 6714213DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1984.tb01876.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
Summary
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This research article studies the preferred landing and feeding sites of Culicoides, a genus of biting midges, on horses in Ireland. As part of a bigger project examining the etiology of sweet itch (a skin condition in horses), the researchers found that certain species of midges prefer to land and feed on specific locations of a horse.
Species of Culicoides and Their Presence
- The researchers identified a total of 10 species of Culicoides midges during the study.
- Out of these, seven species demonstrated engorgement (blood feeding) on the horse.
- The two most prevalent species were Culicoides obsoletus and C dewulfi, which accounted for 89.9% of midges landing and 90.5% of midges engorging on the horse.
- Culicoides pulicaris made up a smaller proportion of the general midge presence, accounting for only 4.69% of midges attracted to the horse.
Preferential Landing and Engorging Sites
- The majority of midges were found to prefer landing along the mane and lower leg regions of the horse. Fewer were attracted to the head, front, and underside of the animal.
- Two species, C punctatus and C nubeculosus, were observed to feed exclusively at the locations typically affected by sweet itch, though in small numbers. This feeding behavior was also predominantly observed in C pulicaris.
- Out of the total 10,178 midges attracted to the horse, 4097, or 40.3%, engorged on the horse’s blood. These midges primarily fed on the mane and lower leg regions.
- Midges feeding on other areas of the horse took smaller meals, indicating a possible preference for the mane and lower legs.
Correlation with Sweet Itch Lesions
- The dorsal midline of the horse’s body, a common site for sweet itch lesions, was also a preferred site for midges’ engorgement. This suggests that these insects may be contributing to the development of sweet itch in horses.
- Interestingly, a significant amount of engorgement also occurred on the lower legs, which are not typically affected by sweet itch lesions. This finding prompts further investigation into the relationship between midge feeding patterns and the development of sweet itch.
Cite This Article
APA
Townley P, Baker KP, Quinn PJ.
(1984).
Preferential landing and engorging sites of Culicoides species landing on a horse in Ireland.
Equine Vet J, 16(2), 117-120.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1984.tb01876.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Ceratopogonidae / physiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Host-Parasite Interactions
- Insect Bites and Stings / pathology
- Insect Bites and Stings / veterinary
- Ireland
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Söderroos D, Ignell R, Haubro Andersen P, Bergvall K, Riihimäki M. The Effect of Insect Bite Hypersensitivity on Movement Activity and Behaviour of the Horse. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 8;13(8).
- Cvitas I, Oberhaensli S, Leeb T, Marti E. Equine keratinocytes in the pathogenesis of insect bite hypersensitivity: Just another brick in the wall?. PLoS One 2022;17(8):e0266263.
- Novotny EN, White SJ, Wilson AD, Stefánsdóttir SB, Tijhaar E, Jonsdóttir S, Frey R, Reiche D, Rose H, Rhyner C, Schüpbach-Regula G, Torsteinsdóttir S, Alcocer M, Marti E. Component-resolved microarray analysis of IgE sensitization profiles to Culicoides recombinant allergens in horses with insect bite hypersensitivity. Allergy 2021 Apr;76(4):1147-1157.
- Murchie AK, Thompson GM, Clawson S, Brown A, Gordon AW, Jess S. Field Evaluation of Deltamethrin and Ivermectin Applications to Cattle on Culicoides Host-Alighting, Blood-Feeding, and Emergence. Viruses 2019 Aug 8;11(8).
- Hope A, Gubbins S, Sanders C, Barber J, Stubbins F, Baylis M, Carpenter S. Sheep breed and shearing influences attraction and blood-feeding behaviour of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) on a UK farm. Parasit Vectors 2018 Aug 20;11(1):473.
- Collins ÁB, Mee JF, Doherty ML, Barrett DJ, England ME. Culicoides species composition and abundance on Irish cattle farms: implications for arboviral disease transmission. Parasit Vectors 2018 Aug 17;11(1):472.
- Hadj-Henni L, De Meulemeester T, Depaquit J, Noël P, Germain A, Helder R, Augot D. Comparison of Vertebrate Cytochrome b and Prepronociceptin for Blood Meal Analyses in Culicoides. Front Vet Sci 2015;2:15.
- 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.
- Viennet E, Garros C, Lancelot R, Allène X, Gardès L, Rakotoarivony I, Crochet D, Delécolle JC, Moulia C, Baldet T, Balenghien T. Assessment of vector/host contact: comparison of animal-baited traps and UV-light/suction trap for collecting Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), vectors of Orbiviruses. Parasit Vectors 2011 Jun 27;4:119.
- Saegerman C, Berkvens D, Mellor PS. Bluetongue epidemiology in the European Union. Emerg Infect Dis 2008 Apr;14(4):539-44.
- Larsen HJ, Bakke SH, Mehl R. Intradermal challenge of Icelandic horses in Norway and Iceland with extracts of Culicoides spp. Acta Vet Scand 1988;29(3-4):311-4.
- Prudhomme J, Bardet C, Rakotoarivony I, Garros C, Bouhsira É, Lienard E. Local investigation into the role of Culicoides species diversity (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in recurrent horse dermatitis cases in southwest France. Parasit Vectors 2025 Mar 5;18(1):86.
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