FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Med Vet Entomol / Summer seasonal prevalence of Culicoides species from pre-al...
Medical and veterinary entomology2020; 35(3); 324-332; doi: 10.1111/mve.12500

Summer seasonal prevalence of Culicoides species from pre-alpine areas in Switzerland.

Abstract: Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are arthropods of veterinary importance since they can transmit pathogens and cause severe allergic dermatitis in horses. Very little is known about the species at higher altitudes and their seasonal dynamics. In this work, adult Culicoides were collected with Onderstepoort UV-light suction traps (OVI) from June to September 2016 at two areas situated at around 1600 m asl (pre-alpine area I, 2 farms) and 2030 m asl (pre-alpine area II, 1 farm) in the Canton of Grisons (south-east Switzerland). Overall, 17 049 Culicoides were collected, including 871 parous females. A total of 50 individuals/trap/night (n = 1050) were identified to species (17 species) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. The remaining 15 128 Culicoides were classified to species groups' level. Culicoides obsoletus (Meigen, 1818), a multivoltine species, was mainly present at 1600 m asl, whereas at high altitudes (2030 m asl), C. grisescens Edwards, 1939 I&II were the most abundant species. In particular, C. grisescens II, which seems to be univoltine, occurred later in the season but significantly increasing over time. Species diversity was higher at pre-alpine I area (n = 16 species) compared to pre-alpine II (n = 10 species).
© 2020 The Royal Entomological Society.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2020-12-15 PubMed ID: 33320361DOI: 10.1111/mve.12500Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 article focuses on the study of biting midge species (Culicoides) found in pre-alpine areas of Switzerland over a summer season in 2016. The study is important for veterinary health as these insects often trigger allergic dermatitis in horses and can transmit pathogens.

Methodology

  • The study involved collecting adult Culicoides from June to September 2016 at two locations, one around 1600 meters above sea level (asl) (pre-alpine area I, 2 farms) and second one around 2030 meters asl (pre-alpine area II, 1 farm) in the Canton of Grisons in South-east Switzerland.
  • A total of 17,049 Culicoides were collected, including 871 parous (pregnant) females. Out of these, a total of 1050 individuals were identified to species level using two different methods. One, the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) method involves using a special type of mass spectrometry to identify species. The second method was polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing, which involves amplifying and studying specific DNA segments.
  • The remaining 15,128 Culicoides were classified at the species group level.

Findings

  • The most notable finding was the presence of Culicoides obsoletus, a species that produces multiple generations (multivoltine) in a season, which was primarily found at the 1600m asl location.
  • At higher altitudes (2030m asl), C. grisescens Edwards, 1939 I&II were the most frequently found species. C. grisescens II, thought to be a univoltine species (one generation per year), was seen later in the season, but its presence significantly increased over time.
  • Diversity of species was notable, with the pre-alpine I area (1600m asl) hosting 16 species compared to pre-alpine II (2030m asl) which hosted 10 species.

To summarise, this paper gives a detailed insight into the species and population dynamics of Culicoides at pre-alpine altitudes in Switzerland, with findings potentially valuable for managing the potential health risks associated with these arthropods.

Cite This Article

APA
Paslaru AI, Torgerson PR, Veronesi E. (2020). Summer seasonal prevalence of Culicoides species from pre-alpine areas in Switzerland. Med Vet Entomol, 35(3), 324-332. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12500

Publication

Medical and veterinary entomology
ISSN: 1365-2915
NlmUniqueID: 8708682
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 3
Pages: 324-332

Researcher Affiliations

Paslaru, A I
  • National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Torgerson, P R
  • Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Veronesi, E
  • National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bluetongue virus
  • Ceratopogonidae
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Insect Vectors
  • Prevalence
  • Seasons
  • Switzerland

References

This article includes 44 references
  1. Ander M, Meiswinkel R, Chirico J. Seasonal dynamics of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides), the potential vectors of bluetongue virus, in Sweden.. Veterinary Parasitology 184, 59-67.
  2. Ayllon T, Nijhof AM, Weiher W, Bauer B, Allene X, Clausen PH. Feeding behaviour of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) on cattle and sheep in Northeast Germany.. Parasites & Vectors 7, 34.
  3. Borkent A, Wirth WW. World species of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 233, 5-257.
  4. Braverman Y, Ungar-Waron H, Frith K. Epidemiological and immunological studies of sweet itch in horses in Israel.. The Veterinary Record 112, 521-524.
  5. Bukauskaite D, Ziegyte R, Palinauskas V. Biting midges (Culicoides, Diptera) transmit Haemoproteus parasites of owls: evidence from sporogony and molecular phylogeny.. Parasites & Vectors 8, 303.
  6. Caracappa S, Torina A, Guercio A. Identification of a novel bluetongue virus vector species of Culicoides in Sicily.. The Veterinary Record 153, 71-74.
  7. Carpenter S, Szmaragd C, Barber J, Labuschagne K, Gubbins S, Mellor PS. An assessment of Culicoides surveillance techniques in northern Europe: have we underestimated a potential bluetongue vector?. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 1237-1245.
  8. Carpenter S, Wilson A, Mellor PS. Culicoides and the emergence of bluetongue virus in northern Europe.. Trends in Microbiology 17, 172-178.
  9. Carpenter S, Wilson A, Barber J. Temperature dependence of the extrinsic incubation period of orbiviruses in Culicoides biting midges.. PLoS One 6, e27987.
  10. Carpenter S, Groschup MH, Garros C, Felippe-Bauer ML, Purse BV. Culicoides biting midges, arboviruses and public health in Europe.. Antiviral Research 100, 102-113.
  11. Casati S, Racloz V, Delécolle JC. An investigation on the Culicoides species composition at seven sites in southern Switzerland.. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 23, 93-98.
  12. Casaubon J, Chaignat V, Vogt HR, Michel AO, Thür B, Ryser-Degiorgis MP. Survey of bluetongue virus infection in free-ranging wild ruminants in Switzerland.. BMC Veterinary Research 9, 166.
  13. Cuéllar AC, Kjaer LJ, Kirkeby C. Spatial and temporal variation in the abundance of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in nine European countries.. Parasites & Vectors 11, 112.
  14. De Liberato C, Scavia G, Lorenzetti R. Identification of Culicoides obsoletus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a vector of bluetongue virus in Central Italy.. The Veterinary Record 156, 301-304.
  15. De Regge N, Deblauwe I, De Deken R. Detection of Schmallenberg virus in different Culicoides spp. by real-time RT-PCR.. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 59, 471-475.
  16. Du Toit RM. The transmission of bluetongue and horse-sickness by Culicoides.. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry 19, 7-16.
  17. Dyce AL. The recognition of nulliparous and parous Culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) without dissection.. Australian Journal of Entomology 8, 11-15.
  18. Elbers ARW, Meiswinkel R, van Weezep E, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Kooi EA. Schmallenberg virus in Culicoides spp. biting midges, The Netherlands, 2011.. Emerging Infectious Diseases 19, 106-109.
  19. European Commission. EC 1266/2007.. Official Journal of the European Union L 283 of 27.10.2007, 37-52.
  20. Harrup LE, Bellis GA, Balenghien T, Garros C. Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) taxonomy: current challenges and future directions.. Infection, Genetics and Evolution: Journal of Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics of Infectious Diseases 30, 249-266.
  21. Kaufmann C, Schaffner F, Mathis A. Monitoring of biting midges (Culicoides spp.), the potential vectors of the bluetongue virus, in the 12 climatic regions of Switzerland.. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 151, 205-213.
  22. Kaufmann C, Steinmann IC, Hegglin D, Schaffner F, Mathis A. Spatio-temporal occurrence of Culicoides biting midges in the climatic regions of Switzerland, along with large scale species identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.. Parasites & Vectors 5, 246.
  23. Kaufmann C, Schaffner F, Ziegler D, Pfluger V, Mathis A. Identification of field-caught Culicoides biting midges using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry.. Parasitology 139, 248-258.
  24. Linley JR, Hoch AL, Pinheiro FP. Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and human health.. Journal of Medical Entomology 20, 347-364.
  25. Martinez-de la Puente J, Martinez J, Rivero-de Aguilar J, Herrero J, Merino S. On the specificity of avian blood parasites: revealing specific and generalist relationships between haemosporidians and biting midges.. Molecular Ecology 20, 3275-3287.
  26. Mathieu B, Cetre-Sossah C, Garros C. Development and validation of IIKC: an interactive identification key for Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) females from the Western Palaearctic region.. Parasites & Vectors 5, 137.
  27. Meiswinkel R, Scolamacchia F, Dik M. The Mondrian matrix: Culicoides biting midge abundance and seasonal incidence during the 2006-2008 epidemic of bluetongue in The Netherlands.. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 28, 10-20.
  28. Mellor PS, Boned J, Hamblin C, Graham S. Isolations of African horse sickness virus from vector insects made during the 1988 epizootic in Spain.. Epidemiology and Infection 105, 447-454.
  29. Mellor PS, Boorman J, Baylis M. Culicoides biting midges: their role as arbovirus vectors.. Annual Review of Entomology 45, 307-340.
  30. Paslaru AI, Mathis A, Torgerson P, Veronesi E. Vector competence of pre-alpine Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for bluetongue virus serotypes 1, 4 and 8.. Parasites & Vectors 11, 466.
  31. Purse BV, Falconer D, Sullivan MJ. Impacts of climate, host and landscape factors on Culicoides species in Scotland.. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 26, 168-177.
  32. Robin M, Page P, Archer D, Baylis M. African horse sickness: the potential for an outbreak in disease-free regions and current disease control and elimination techniques.. Equine Veterinary Journal 48, 659-669.
  33. Saegerman C, Berkvens D, Mellor PS. Bluetongue epidemiology in the European Union.. Emerging Infectious Diseases 14, 539-544.
  34. Takken W, Verhulst N, Scholte EJ, Jacobs F, Jongema Y, van Lammeren R. The phenology and population dynamics of Culicoides spp. in different ecosystems in The Netherlands.. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 87, 41-54.
  35. Thompson GM, Jess S, Murchie AK. Differential emergence of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from on-farm breeding substrates in Northern Ireland.. Parasitology 140, 699-708.
  36. Van Ark H, Meiswinkel R. Subsampling of large light trap catches of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 59, 183-189.
  37. Venter GJ, Nevill EM, Van der Linde TC. Geographical distribution and relative abundance of stock-associated Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in southern Africa in relation to their potential as viral vectors.. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 63, 25-38.
  38. Venter GJ, Boikanyo SNB, de Beer CJ. The influence of temperature and humidity on the flight activity of Culicoides imicola both under laboratory and field conditions.. Parasites & Vectors 12, 4.
  39. Verhulst NO, Brendle A, Blanckenhorn WU, Mathis A. Thermal preferences of subtropical Aedes aegypti and temperate Aedes japonicus mosquitoes.. Journal of Thermal Ecology 91, 102637.
  40. Viennet E, Garros C, Lancelot R. 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.. Parasites Vectors 4, 119.
  41. Viennet E, Garros C, Rakotoarivony I. Host-seeking activity of bluetongue virus vectors: endo/exophagy and circadian rhythm of Culicoides in Western Europe.. PLoS One 7, e48120.
  42. Wenk CE, Kaufmann C, Schaffner F, Mathis A. Molecular characterization of Swiss Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) and evaluation of real-time PCR assays for the identification of Culicoides biting midges.. Veterinary Parasitology 184, 258-266.
  43. Willgert KJ, Schroedle B, Schwermer H. Spatial analysis of bluetongue cases and vaccination of Swiss cattle in 2008 and 2009.. Geospatial Health 5, 227-237.
  44. Zientara S, Weyer CT, Lecollinet S. African horse sickness.. Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics) 34, 315-327.

Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Thompson JE. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry in veterinary medicine: Recent advances (2019-present). Vet World 2022 Nov;15(11):2623-2657.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.2623-2657pubmed: 36590115google scholar: lookup
  2. Li Y, An Q, Sun Z, Gao X, Wang H. Risk Factors and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Lumpy Skin Disease Occurrence in the Asian Continent during 2012-2022: An Ecological Niche Model. Transbound Emerg Dis 2023;2023:6207149.
    doi: 10.1155/2023/6207149pubmed: 40303823google scholar: lookup
  3. Wang F, Lu X, Wang Z, Ma J, Zhou N, Hou X. Ultrastructural and morphological observations of the external and internal structures of the adult midge Culicoides grisescens (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). J Insect Sci 2025 Mar 14;25(2).
    doi: 10.1093/jisesa/ieaf041pubmed: 40278047google scholar: lookup
  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.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06694-2pubmed: 40045427google scholar: lookup
  5. Benyahia H, Parola P, Almeras L. Evolution of MALDI-TOF MS Profiles from Lice and Fleas Preserved in Alcohol over Time. Insects 2023 Oct 20;14(10).
    doi: 10.3390/insects14100825pubmed: 37887837google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.