Rita Žiegytė1, Elena Platonova2, Egidijus Kinderis2, Andrey Mukhin3, Vaidas Palinauskas2, Rasa Bernotienė2. 1. Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius 21, 09412, Vilnius, Lithuania. rita.ziegyte@gamtc.lt. 2. Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius 21, 09412, Vilnius, Lithuania. 3. Biological Station Rybachy of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Rybachy, 238535, Kaliningrad Region, Russia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Culicoides biting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) are known vectors of avian Haemoproteus parasites. These parasites cause diseases, pathology and even mortality in birds. The diversity of biting midges in Europe is great, but only four Culicoides species are known to be vectors of avian Haemoproteus parasites. In general, our knowledge about the role of the particular Culicoides species in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites remains insufficient. Information gaps hinder a better understanding of parasite biology and the epizootiology of parasite-caused diseases. The aim of this study was to determine new Culicoides species involved in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites. METHODS: Biting midges were collected using a UV trap as well as sticky traps installed in bird nest boxes. Individual parous females were diagnosed for the presence of haemoproteids using both PCR-based and microscopic methods. RESULTS: We collected and dissected 232 parous Culicoides females from 9 species using a UV trap and 293 females from 11 species from bird nest boxes. Culicoides obsoletus was the dominant species collected using a UV trap, and Culicoides kibunensis dominated among midges collected in nest boxes. PCR-based screening showed that 5.2% of parous biting midges collected using a UV trap and 4.4% of midges collected from nest boxes were infected with avian haemosporidian parasites. Haemoproteid DNA was detected in C. kibunensis, Culicoides pictipennis, Culicoides punctatus, Culicoides segnis and Culicoides impunctatus females. The sporozoites of Haemoproteus minutus (genetic lineages hTURDUS2 and hTUPHI01) were detected in the salivary glands of two C. kibunensis females using microscopy, and this finding was confirmed by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Culicoides kibunensis was detected as a new natural vector of Haemoproteus minutus (hTURDUS2 and hTUPHI01). Haemoproteid DNA was detected in females from five Culicoides species. This study contributes to the epizootiology of avian Haemoproteus infections by specifying Culicoides species as vectors and species that are likely to be responsible for the transmission of haemoproteids in Europe.
BACKGROUND:Culicoidesbiting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) are known vectors of avian Haemoproteus parasites. These parasites cause diseases, pathology and even mortality in birds. The diversity of biting midges in Europe is great, but only four Culicoides species are known to be vectors of avian Haemoproteus parasites. In general, our knowledge about the role of the particular Culicoides species in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites remains insufficient. Information gaps hinder a better understanding of parasite biology and the epizootiology of parasite-caused diseases. The aim of this study was to determine new Culicoides species involved in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites. METHODS:Biting midges were collected using a UV trap as well as sticky traps installed in bird nest boxes. Individual parous females were diagnosed for the presence of haemoproteids using both PCR-based and microscopic methods. RESULTS: We collected and dissected 232 parous Culicoides females from 9 species using a UV trap and 293 females from 11 species from bird nest boxes. Culicoides obsoletus was the dominant species collected using a UV trap, and Culicoides kibunensis dominated among midges collected in nest boxes. PCR-based screening showed that 5.2% of parous biting midges collected using a UV trap and 4.4% of midges collected from nest boxes were infected with avian haemosporidian parasites. Haemoproteid DNA was detected in C. kibunensis, Culicoides pictipennis, Culicoides punctatus, Culicoides segnis and Culicoides impunctatus females. The sporozoites of Haemoproteus minutus (genetic lineages hTURDUS2 and hTUPHI01) were detected in the salivary glands of two C. kibunensis females using microscopy, and this finding was confirmed by PCR. CONCLUSIONS:Culicoides kibunensis was detected as a new natural vector of Haemoproteus minutus (hTURDUS2 and hTUPHI01). Haemoproteid DNA was detected in females from five Culicoides species. This study contributes to the epizootiology of avian Haemoproteus infections by specifying Culicoides species as vectors and species that are likely to be responsible for the transmission of haemoproteids in Europe.
Authors: Gediminas Valkiūnas; Rita Kazlauskienė; Rasa Bernotienė; Vaidas Palinauskas; Tatjana A Iezhova Journal: Parasitol Res Date: 2013-03-16 Impact factor: 2.289
Authors: Taryn A Donovan; Mark Schrenzel; Tammy A Tucker; Allan P Pessier; Ilse H Stalis Journal: J Vet Diagn Invest Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 1.279
Authors: Simon Carpenter; Martin H Groschup; Claire Garros; Maria Luiza Felippe-Bauer; Bethan V Purse Journal: Antiviral Res Date: 2013-08-08 Impact factor: 5.970
Authors: Konstantinos Konstantinidis; Maria Bampali; Michael de Courcy Williams; Nikolas Dovrolis; Elisavet Gatzidou; Pavlos Papazilakis; Andreas Nearchou; Stavroula Veletza; Ioannis Karakasiliotis Journal: Front Microbiol Date: 2022-03-07 Impact factor: 5.640