Entomological survey on vectors of Bluetongue virus in Northrhine-Westfalia (Germany) during 2007 and 2008

Mehlhorn, Heinz; Walldorf, Volker; Klimpel, Sven; Schmahl, Günther; Al‐Quraishy, Saleh; Walldorf, Ursula; Mehlhorn, Birgit; Bätza, Hans-Joachim

doi:10.1007/s00436-009-1413-1

Cited by 34 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The former three species also accounted for 98-99% of Culicoides captured in a cattle shed and a sheepfold in Belgium (Zimmer et al 2008a). At cattle farms in western, central and southern Germany, Culicoides species belonging to the C. obsoletus group were most abundant, while species of the C. pulicaris group were second (Mehlhorn et al 2009;Clausen et al 2009;Hörbrand and Geier 2009). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides Latreille) on farms in Sweden during the emergence of the 2008 epidemic of bluetongue

Nielsen

Chirico

2010

Parasitol Res

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In light of the emergence of bluetongue in northern Europe, populations of Culicoides species were monitored in 2007-2008 by means of Onderstepoort blacklight suction traps operating at livestock farms in Sweden. The location of the 22 sampling sites ranged from about latitude 55 degrees N to about 68 degrees N. A total of 61,669 male and female Culicoides were captured, of which, 52,319 were trapped outside the farms and 9,350 in byres or livestock sheds. Thirty-three Culicoides species were recorded, of which, 30 were new to Sweden. The species and their relative abundance and spatial distribution on sites are presented. Two species incriminated as vectors of bluetongue virus, viz. Culicoides obsoletus (about 38%) and Culicoides scoticus (about 36%), were predominant and common in the environment of livestock farms practically all over the Swedish mainland, penetrating far north to at least 65 degrees N. The two species were also recorded from the island of Gotland. Culicoides pulicaris, another potential vector species, accounted for about 9% of all Culicoides captured.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides Latreille) on farms in Sweden during the emergence of the 2008 epidemic of bluetongue

Nielsen

Chirico

2010

Parasitol Res

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“…Mehlhorn et al . discovered that C. obsoletus , in particular, is found throughout the year and also inside or close to stables during the winter months in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) [20]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection in German goat flocks

et al. 2013

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SUMMARYAnimal losses due to abortion and malformed offspring during the lambing period 2011/2012 amounted to 50% in ruminants in Europe. A new arthropod-borne virus, called Schmallenberg virus (SBV), was identified as the cause of these losses. Blood samples were obtained from 40 goat flocks and tested for antibodies against SBV by ELISA, with 95% being seropositive. The calculated intra-herd seroprevalence (median 36·7%, min-max 0–93·3%) was smaller than in cattle or sheep flocks. Only 25% of the farmers reported malformations in kids. Statistical analysis revealed a significantly lower risk of goats housed indoors all year-round to be infected by SBV than for goats kept outside day and night. The low intra-herd seroprevalence demonstrates that German goat flocks are still at risk of SBV infection. Therefore, they must be protected during the next lambing seasons by rescheduling the mating period, implementing indoor housing, and continuous treatment with repellents or vaccination.

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“…The presence of C. imicola in Clarens, even though at low abundance (<1% of all Culicoides spp. captured) [16], indicates that some individuals of this species may utilise protected microclimates to escape severe cold, similar to some European species that overwinter in stables [51]. Another possibility may be that C. imicola reinvades these areas annually, as Culicoides species have been known to travel long distances by wind-mediated dispersal [52].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal limits of two biting midges, Culicoides imicola Kieffer and C. bolitinos Meiswinkel (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

2014

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BackgroundCulicoides imicola Kieffer and Culicoides bolitinos Meiswinkel (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are both of veterinary importance, being vectors of Schmallenberg, bluetongue and African horse sickness (AHS) viruses. Within South Africa, these Culicoides species show a marked difference in their abundances according to altitude, with C. imicola highly abundant in lower altitudes, but being replaced as the dominant species by C. bolitinos in cooler, high-altitude regions.MethodsThe thermal physiology of field collected adults of each species was determined to evaluate whether it could account for differences in their distribution and abundance. Critical thermal maxima (CTmax) and minima (CTmin), as well as upper and lower lethal temperatures (ULT and LLT) were assessed after acclimation temperatures of 19ˌC, 24ˌC and 29ˌC. Critical thermal limits were determined using an ecologically relevant rate of temperature change of 0.06ˌC.min−1.ResultsSignificant differences in CTmin and CTmax were found between acclimation temperatures for C. imicola and C. bolitinos. In C. bolitinos, the LLT of individuals acclimated at 24ˌC was significantly improved (LLT50 = −6.01ˌC) compared with those acclimated at the other temperatures (LLT50 = −4ˌC). Acclimation had a weak (difference in LLT50 of only 1ˌC) but significant effect on the LLT of C. imicola. When CTmin, CTmax, LLT and ULT were superimposed on daily maximum and minimum temperature records from locations where each tested Culicoides species is dominant, it was found that temperatures frequently declined below the CTmin and LLT of C. imicola at the location where C. bolitinos was dominant.ConclusionsThe distribution and abundance of C. imicola is likely directly constrained by their relatively poor tolerance of lower temperatures. Results for C. bolitinos suggest that the adult phase is hardy, and it is hypothesised that the thermal biology of other life stages could determine their range.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-384) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Entomological survey on vectors of Bluetongue virus in Northrhine-Westfalia (Germany) during 2007 and 2008

Cited by 34 publications

References 13 publications

Monitoring of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides Latreille) on farms in Sweden during the emergence of the 2008 epidemic of bluetongue

Monitoring of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides Latreille) on farms in Sweden during the emergence of the 2008 epidemic of bluetongue

Survey of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection in German goat flocks

Thermal limits of two biting midges, Culicoides imicola Kieffer and C. bolitinos Meiswinkel (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

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