Occurrence of<i>Culicoides</i>spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Tunisia, with emphasis on the bluetongue vector<i>Culicoides imicola</i>

Hammami, Salah; Bouzid, Maha; Hammou, F; Fakhfakh, Emna; Delecolle, Jean Claude

doi:10.1051/parasite/2008152179

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Then, inventories were completed during studies following the BTV emergence in the 2000s in the Maghreb and in the whole Mediterranean region. Today, the number of species recorded in Morocco (54 species) was slightly higher than in Algeria with 47 species [54] and in Tunisia with 35 species [55, 57, 64, 65]. The same increasing species richness gradient from Tunisia to Morocco is observed for mosquitoes [66], and may be related to the greater diversity of climates and landscapes found in Morocco, including the influence of the ocean climate prevailing on the northwest coast and not existing in the two neighboring countries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Update of the species checklist of Culicoides Latreille, 1809 biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Morocco

et al. 2019

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Background Investigations of Culicoides fauna, including inventories, were carried out in Morocco at different periods after the country had faced major bluetongue and African horse sickness outbreaks. However, no comprehensive reference publication has provided a clear overview of the Culicoides species diversity. This study reviewed available data on Culicoides biting midge species in Morocco from 1968 to 2015 (published and grey literature in French and English) in order to revise the current checklist, in light of state of the art taxonomic and systematic knowledge, and confirmed the checklist with morphological and molecular identifications of specimens collected from the region of Rabat. Methods Literature related to Culicoides collections in Morocco was collated. Authors were contacted to obtain raw data and additional information for the collections. Fresh Culicoides material was collected and examined from two sites around Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Each collected individual was examined and morphologically identified, if possible, to the species level. In addition, molecular identification was performed to separate closely related species, to confirm difficult morphological identifications and to confirm new species records. Results A total of 6121 individuals of Culicoides spp. were collected and analyzed and at least 17 species were identified: C. cataneii/C. gejgelensis, C. circumscriptus, C. fagineus, C. festivipennis, C. imicola, C. jumineri, C. kingi, C. longipennis, C. montanus, C. newsteadi, C. obsoletus, C. paolae, C. parotti, C. puncticollis, C. sahariensis, C. scoticus and C. subfagineus. Seven species were confirmed using phylogenetic analyses. Two new species records for Morocco are reported: C. paolae and C. subfagineus. Conclusions The Moroccan fauna of Culicoides now includes 54 valid species. Further work would certainly increase this total, as one of the clades we identified was not affiliated to any described and valid species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Update of the species checklist of Culicoides Latreille, 1809 biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Morocco

et al. 2019

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“…The primary step involved in the identification of risk areas for exposure to BT in Tunisia was the identification of the potential risk factors for BTV spread. Thus, risk factors used to characterize the different levels of risk of exposure to BTV (negligible, low, high and very high) included the following: The probability of the presence of the main vector ( Culicoides imicola ) was determined using the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt version 3.4.1, http://www.cs.princeton.edu/wschapire/MaxEnt/) (Phillips et al., 2006), the climatological factors (temperature and rainfall) and the presence/absence data on the vector retrieved from previous studies on vector trapping in Tunisia (Chaker et al., 2005; Hammami et al., 2008; Slama et al., 2016; Slama et al., 2014; Slama et al., 2015; Sghaier et al., 2017). The probability of the presence of the vector in the generated raster was calculated at the sector level using ArcGIS software version 10.4. Sheep population density expressed in units of the number of heads/km 2 at the sector level was calculated using Gridded Livestock of the World animal density data set (Robinson et al., 2014) and the area of sectors, which was performed with ArcGIS software version 10.4. National livestock movement data: A cross‐sectional survey was conducted by the national Center for Zoosanitary Vigilance (CNVZ) at all livestock markets in Tunisia.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk‐based serological survey of bluetongue and the first evidence of bluetongue virus serotype 26 circulation in Tunisia

Kalthoum

Sghaier²,

Hassine

et al. 2022

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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Background Bluetongue (BT), a vector‐borne disease of wild and domestic ruminants, is responsible for severe economic losses in flocks. To reduce this impact, a surveillance and control plan was implemented in Tunisia. However, the epidemiological situation of BT remains incompletely understood, especially for the circulating serotypes. Objective The aim of this survey was to determine the seroprevalence, to identify the circulating serotypes and to identify the associated risk factors for bluetongue virus (BTV) circulation in Tunisia using risk‐based sampling (RBS). Methods A total of 3314 blood samples were randomly collected from 67 sectors using risk‐based sampling and screened by competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (c‐ELISAs). Out of the 1330 positive samples, 200 samples were analysed by serum neutralization test (SNT) to identify circulating BTV serotypes. Results Of 3314 sera, 1330 were c‐ELISA‐positive (40.1%) for antibodies against the BTV structural protein VP7. The result of SNT showed the presence of BTV‐1, BTV‐2, BTV‐3, BTV‐4 and, for the first time in Tunisia, BTV‐26. The logistic regression model revealed that older animals had nearly two times the odds of being infected with BTV compared to younger animals. Flocks with a history of BT were almost 1.5 times more likely to be at risk for contracting BTV infection. The flock size, housing indoors and intensive production system were significant protective factors. Conclusions High seroprevalence of BTV among sheep was highlighted in Tunisia. The neutralization test showed the presence of the following BTV serotypes: BTV‐1, BTV‐2, BTV‐3, BTV‐4 and, for the first time in Tunisia, BTV‐26. Age, production system and flock size were important variables associated with BTV infection in sheep. This finding is crucial, as it will allow the adjustment of the BT control programme in Tunisia.

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“…In addition to the 24 well-known serotypes of BTV, other atypical novels BTV serotypes have been described and reported throughout the world (Schulz et al ., 2008; Rupner et al ., 2020 ). The principal insect vector of BT in Tunisia is Culicoides imicola ( C. imicola ) ( Hammami, 2004 ; Hammami et al , 2008 ; Sghaier et al ., 2009 , 2014 ). Other species of Culicoides, such as C. obsoletus , C. newsteadi , C. punctatus , and C. kingi , have been shown to transmit BTV in other parts of the world.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Eco-Climatic Factors in the Distribution of Bluetongue in Endemic Areas in Tunisia

Hassine¹,

Sghaier²,

Sarah³

et al. 2022

Open Vet J

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Background: Bluetongue (BT) is an important infectious, non-contagious, OIE-listed viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants. The disease is transmitted among susceptible animals by a few species of an insect vector in the genus Culicoides . Recently, during the fall of 2020 (September and October), a Bluetongue virus-4 epizootic marked the epidemiological situation in several delegations of Tunisia with clinical cases recorded in sheep and cattle. Aim: Determine the eco-climatic variables most likely associated with delegations reporting BT cases. Methods: A logistic regression model (LRM) was used to examine which eco-climatic variables were most likely associated with delegations reporting BT cases. Results: Based on the LRM, our findings demonstrated that the key factors contributing significantly to BT cases’ distribution among delegations in Tunisia included day land surface temperatures (DLST), night land surface temperatures (NLST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). A positive correlation between sheep distribution and rainfall amounts was demonstrated. Statistical analysis focusing on the most affected delegations during the BT epidemic (the Sahel and the Centre of Tunisia) demonstrated that the epidemic situation seems to be a consequence of the combination of the following environmental parameters: NDVI with values ranging between 0.16 and 0.2, moderate rainfall 2–4-fold above the normal (10–50 mm) and DLST values between 32°C and 34°C in September. Conclusion: These findings suggest and develop a robust and efficient early warning surveillance program in risk areas based on eco-climatic risk factors.

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Occurrence ofCulicoidesspp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Tunisia, with emphasis on the bluetongue vectorCulicoides imicola

Cited by 9 publications

References 13 publications

Update of the species checklist of Culicoides Latreille, 1809 biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Morocco

Update of the species checklist of Culicoides Latreille, 1809 biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Morocco

Risk‐based serological survey of bluetongue and the first evidence of bluetongue virus serotype 26 circulation in Tunisia

Role of Eco-Climatic Factors in the Distribution of Bluetongue in Endemic Areas in Tunisia

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