Host Associations Of Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) Near Sentinel Chicken Surveillance Locations In Florida, USA

Abstract

Quantifying host use is important for understanding transmission of vector-borne pathogens. Despite the importance of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in pathogen transmission, the vector–host relationships of most Culicoides species are poorly documented, even in locations where active arbovirus surveillance is conducted. Polymerase chain reaction–based blood-meal analysis was performed on 663 blood-engorged Culicoides females collected by 7 Florida mosquito control districts at 24 sentinel chicken arbovirus surveillance sites in 2017. A total of 638 blood meals were successfully analyzed to determine host species source, representing 11 Culicoides species. The most commonly bitten host was domestic chicken ( Gallus gallus) (presumably sentinel chickens), constituting 565 of 638 (88.6%) the total blood meals. Other common hosts included humans (5.8%), white-tailed deer ( Odoocoileus virginianus) (2.5%), and brown basilisk ( Basiliscus vittatus) (1.6%). Significant differences in distribution of mammal and avian blood meals were found for a number of Culicoides species, and these patterns did not vary across locations. These results indicate that sentinel chickens are exposed to bites by Culicoides, potentially exposing them to Culicoides-borne pathogens. The findings that vertebrate host use was consistent across locations suggests that each Culicoides species has affinity for one or more specific animal groups, and does not feed randomly upon available animals.

Oviposition of Culicoides insignis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) under laboratory conditions with notes on the developmental life history traits of its immature stages

“…In addition, our findings provide valuable insight into the life history traits of C. insignis , an important vector of BTV/EHDV in Florida. Although considered a mammal biter [ 32 ], C. insignis females showed satisfactory blood-feeding rates on live chicken in the laboratory. These blood-feeding rates can be possibly increased further by altering starvation periods or environmental conditions during blood-feeding or by using other laboratory animals (mammals) as a blood source.…”

A Review of the Vector Status of North American Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for Bluetongue Virus, Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, and Other Arboviruses of Concern

“…Culicoides haematopotus has been found in great abundance in areas near susceptible livestock [59]. However, some reports indicate that this species may feed more heavily on birds than mammals [45,60].…”

“…Culicoides crepuscularis has been implicated in BTV and EHDV transmission through virus detection from field-collected individuals in Louisiana [49]. However, C. crepuscularis may feed primarily on birds [60], and so is thought that it would be unlikely to transmit BTV or EHDV between ruminants.…”

Tracking Community Timing: Pattern and Determinants of Seasonality in Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Northern Florida

“…Across southeast US, large catches of Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz, Culicoides stellifer Coquillett, Culicoides paraensis Goeldi, Culicoides haematopotus Malloch, Culicoides crepuscularis Malloch and Culicoides biguttatus Coquillett have been found in accordance with HD outbreaks or near affected host species [ 29 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ]. Culicoides stellifer , C. venustus and C. debilipalpis feed preferentially on competent hosts, but C. haematopotus feed heavily on birds and less often on ruminants [ 62 , 63 ]. In addition, several species have been found naturally infected at a low rate with BTV and EHDV ( C. crepuscularis , C. haematopotus, C. debilipalpis , C. stellifer, Culicoides furens Poey, Culicoides variipennis Coquillet, C. venustus) [ 29 , 61 , 64 , 65 ].…”