Protection of horses against Culicoides biting midges in different housing systems in Switzerland.
Abstract: Species belonging to the Culicoides complexes (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), obsoletus and pulicaris, in Switzerland, are potential vectors of both bluetongue virus (BTV) and African horse sickness virus (AHSV). The epidemic of BTV in 2006 and 2007 in Europe has highlighted the risk of introduction and spread of vector-borne diseases in previously non-endemic areas. As a measure of prevention, as part of an integrated control programme in the event of an outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS), it is of utmost importance to prevent, or substantially reduce, contact between horses and Culicoides. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of three protection systems, net, fan, repellent, or combinations thereof, with regard to their potential to reduce contact between horses and Culicoides. Three different equine housing systems, including individual boxes (BX), group housing systems (GR), and individual boxes with permanently accessible paddock (BP) were used. The efficacy of the protection systems were evaluated by comparing the total number counts of collected female Culicoides, of non-blood-fed and blood-fed Culicoides, respectively, with UV black light traps. The study was conducted over 3 summer months during 2012 and 2013 each and focused on the efficacy and practicality of the protection systems. The repellent was tested in 2012 only and not further investigated in 2013, as it showed no significant effect in reducing Culicoides collected in the light traps. Net protection system provided the best overall protection for the total number of female Culicoides, non-blood-fed and blood-fed Culicoides in all tested housing systems. The net, with a pore size of 0.1825 mm(2), reduced the total number of Culicoides collected in the housing systems BP, GR and BX by 98%, 85% and 67%, respectively. However, in the GR housing system, no significant difference between the effectiveness of the fan and the net were determined for any of the three Culicoides categories. The results of the present study demonstrated that horse owners can substantially reduce their horses' exposure to Culicoides, by using net protection in the housing systems BX, BP and GR. In GR housing systems, protection against Culicoides using a fan is also recommended.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2015-04-18 PubMed ID: 25935291DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.04.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- African Horse Sickness
- Culicoides
- Disease control
- Disease Management
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Transmission
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horse Management
- Horse Owners
- Horses
- Insect Bite Hypersensitivity
- Prophylaxis
- Public Health
- Stable Management
- Vector-borne disease
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This research aims to combat the exposure of horses in Switzerland to Culicoides complexes, potential disease-vector insects, by testing the effectiveness of different protection systems, namely net, fan, and repellent.
Background
- The insects from the Culicoides complexes obsoletus and pulicaris, found in Switzerland, can potentially transmit diseases such as the bluetongue virus (BTV) and the African horse sickness virus (AHSV).
- Preventing or reducing contact between these insects and horses is extremely important in preventing an outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS).
- The study thus aims to test three protection systems: nets, fans, and repellents.
Methodology
- The study was conducted over the summer months of 2012 and 2013, evaluating the effectiveness of the three protection systems in three different types of housing systems for horses: individual boxes (BX), group housing systems (GR), and individual boxes with permanently accessible paddock (BP).
- The efficacy of the protection measures was evaluated by counting the number of female, both blood-fed and non-blood-fed, Culicoides caught in UV black light traps.
Results and Findings
- The repellent system was discontinued from testing after 2012, as it showed no significant impact in reducing the number of Culicoides caught in traps.
- The net protection system, which had a pore size of 0.1825 mm(2), proved to be the most effective overall, reducing Culicoides contact by varying degrees in different housing systems: 98% in BP, 85% in GR, and 67% in BX.
- In the GR housing system, there was no significant difference between the efficiency of the fan and the net in reducing Culicoides contact in any category.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that horse owners can significantly reduce the exposure of their horses to Culicoides using net protection in all tested housing systems.
- In the case of GR housing systems, fan usage is also recommended for protection against Culicoides.
- This research provides valuable guidance to horse owners in Switzerland and potentially in other areas where Culicoides are present, in minimizing the risk of horses contracting diseases transmitted by these insects.
Cite This Article
APA
Lincoln VJ, Page PC, Kopp C, Mathis A, von Niederhäusern R, Burger D, Herholz C.
(2015).
Protection of horses against Culicoides biting midges in different housing systems in Switzerland.
Vet Parasitol, 210(3-4), 206-214.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.04.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Laenggasse 85, CH-3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland.
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
- Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Laenggasse 85, CH-3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland.
- University of Zurich, Institute of Parasitology, National Centre for Vector Entomology, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
- Swiss National Stud, Agroscope, Les Longs Prés, CH-1580 Avenches, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, Agroscope and University of Berne, Les Longs Prés, CH-1580 Avenches, Switzerland.
- Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Laenggasse 85, CH-3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland. Electronic address: Conny.Herholz@bfh.ch.
MeSH Terms
- African Horse Sickness / epidemiology
- African Horse Sickness / prevention & control
- African Horse Sickness / transmission
- African Horse Sickness Virus / physiology
- Animals
- Bluetongue / epidemiology
- Bluetongue / prevention & control
- Bluetongue / transmission
- Bluetongue virus / physiology
- Ceratopogonidae / virology
- Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Female
- Horses
- Housing
- Insect Repellents
- Insect Vectors / virology
- Mosquito Control / methods
- Mosquito Nets
- Seasons
- Switzerland / epidemiology
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