Tabanids: neglected subjects of research, but important vectors of disease agents!
Abstract: Tabanids are nuisance pests for people and livestock because of their painful and irritating bite, persistent biting behavior, and blood ingestion. About 4400 tabanid species have been described; they are seasonally present in all kinds of landscapes, latitudes, and altitudes. High populations have a significant economic impact on outdoor activities, tourism, and livestock production. Tabanids are also vectors of animal disease agents, including viruses, bacteria and parasites. However, tabanids have received little attention in comparison with other hematophagous Diptera. Here, we highlight the many direct and indirect impacts of tabanids and provide a brief summary of tabanid morphology, biology, and life cycle. Impacts include pathogen transmission, parasite transportation (Dermatobia hominis), biological transmission (Loa loa), and mechanical transmission of viruses, such as equine infectious anemia virus, protozoa, such as Trypanosoma evansi and Besnotia besnoiti, and bacteria, such as Bacillus anthracis and Anaplasma marginale. We discuss parameters of mechanical transmission and its mathematical modeling. Control methods for tabanid populations are also summarized; these include trapping, the use of insecticides, repellents, and livestock protection. Lastly recommendations are provided for the direction of future research.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2014-04-13 PubMed ID: 24727644DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.03.029Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses tabanids, a group of biting flies, highlighting their significant impact on outdoor activities, tourism, and livestock production due to their potential for transmitting various disease agents. However, the paper points out that these vectors have not been adequately researched and recommends future exploratory directions.
Overview of Tabanids
- The paper discusses about 4400 species of tabanids, which are present in all kinds of landscapes, latitudes, and altitudes. These insects have a significant economic impact due to their negative effect on outdoor activities, tourism, and livestock production.
- In spite of their importance, tabanids have not received much research attention, when compared with other blood-sucking Diptera, a group that includes mosquitos and sandflies among others.
Impacts of Tabanids
- Tabanids can cause both direct and indirect impacts. Direct impacts refer to the annoyance and discomfort caused by their bites. Indirect impacts are significantly more serious and relate to disease transmission.
- The diseases that tabanids can carry and transmit include viruses such as equine infectious anemia virus, protozoa such as Trypanosoma evansi and Besnotia besnoiti, and bacteria like Bacillus anthracis and Anaplasma marginale.
- The study also delves into the parameters of mechanical transmission of these diseases and its mathematical modeling, enhancing scientific understanding of how these diseases spread.
Control Methods for Tabanid Populations
- The article provides a summary of current control methods for managing tabanid populations, which include various trapping techniques, the use of insecticides and repellents, and various methods for protecting livestock.
Future Research Recommendations
- In conclusion, the article suggests certain directions for future research into tabanids, which could lead to better understanding of these vectors and the development of more effective control methods.
Cite This Article
APA
Baldacchino F, Desquesnes M, Mihok S, Foil LD, Duvallet G, Jittapalapong S.
(2014).
Tabanids: neglected subjects of research, but important vectors of disease agents!
Infect Genet Evol, 28, 596-615.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2014.03.029 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- UMR5175 CEFE, University Paul-Valéry, route de Mende, 34199 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy. Electronic address: fredericbaldacchino@yahoo.fr.
- Cirad-Bios, UMR-InterTryp, Montpellier F-34000, France; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. Electronic address: marc.desquesnes@cirad.fr.
- 388 Church Street, Russell, Ontario K4R 1A8, Canada. Electronic address: smihok@rogers.com.
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Bâton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. Electronic address: lfoil@agcenter.lsu.edu.
- UMR5175 CEFE, University Paul-Valéry, route de Mende, 34199 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. Electronic address: gerard.duvallet@univ-montp3.fr.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. Electronic address: fvetspj@yahoo.com.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Communicable Disease Control
- Diptera / anatomy & histology
- Diptera / physiology
- Disease Transmission, Infectious
- Disease Vectors
- Female
- Host-Parasite Interactions
- Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Humans
- Insect Control
- Life Cycle Stages
- Male
- Models, Theoretical
- Reproduction
- Risk Factors
- Seasons
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