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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.
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Publication Date: 2020-12-15 PubMed ID: 33320361DOI: 10.1111/mve.12500Google Scholar: Lookup
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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

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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