| larval habitats and seasonal abundance of culicoides biting midges found in association with sheep in northern sardinia, italy. | between january 2005 and december 2006, the larval habitats and seasonal abundances of 21 species of culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) found in association with livestock on a farm in northern sardinia were studied. culicoides were collected using two light traps (one placed in a sheep shed and the other near water ponds) and reared from mud collected in and along the margins of a small and a large water pond. the mammalophilic culicoides imicola kieffer and culicoides newsteadi austen were ... | 2010 | 20604864 |
| culicoides species communities associated with wild ruminant ecosystems in spain: tracking the way to determine potential bridge vectors for arboviruses. | the genus culicoides latreille 1809 is a well-known vector for protozoa, filarial worms and, above all, numerous viruses. the bluetongue virus (btv) and the recently emerged schmallenberg virus (sbv) are responsible for important infectious, non-contagious, insect-borne viral diseases found in domestic ruminants and transmitted by culicoides spp. both of these diseases have been detected in wild ruminants, but their role as reservoirs during the vector-free season still remains relatively unknow ... | 2015 | 26510136 |
| host-seeking activity of bluetongue virus vectors: endo/exophagy and circadian rhythm of culicoides in western europe. | feeding success of free-living hematophagous insects depends on their ability to be active when hosts are available and to reach places where hosts are accessible. when the hematophagous insect is a vector of pathogens, determining the components of host-seeking behavior is of primary interest for the assessment of transmission risk. our aim was to describe endo/exophagy and circadian host-seeking activity of palaearctic culicoides species, which are major biting pests and arbovirus vectors, usi ... | 2012 | 23144735 |
| a survey of culicoides developmental sites on a farm in northern spain, with a brief review of immature habitats of european species. | culicoides species (diptera: ceratopogonidae) belonging to the obsoletus and pulicaris groups are considered to be the main vectors of bluetongue virus (btv) in non mediterranean europe. selected terrestrial microhabitats (n=17) on a farm in northern spain were sampled repeatedly over a year-long period and characterized for use by culicoides species for immature development. concurrent use of cdc light traps showed the presence of 37 species and 66,575 specimens of adult culicoides. a total of ... | 2013 | 22999100 |
| host preferences of ornithophilic biting midges of the genus culicoides in the eastern balkans. | many biting midges of the genus culicoides latreille, 1809 (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are competent vectors of a diverse number of pathogens. the identification of their feeding behaviour and of vector-host associations is essential for understanding their transmission capacity. by applying two different nested polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assays, of which one targeted the avian cyt b gene and the other targeted the coi gene of a wide range of vertebrates, we identified the blood hosts of six ... | 2015 | 25689114 |
| degree of associations among vectors of the genus culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) and host bird species with respect to haemosporidian parasites in ne bulgaria. | the occurrence of haemosporidians in biting midges of the genus culicoides is examined in north-east bulgaria in order to reveal their potential role for parasite transmission. a pcr-based technique amplifying part of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of the parasite is applied on naturally infected biting midges. totally, 640 parous individuals of four species and 95 blood-fed individuals of six species of culicoides are examined for the presence of dna of haemosporidians. haemosporidian gene ... | 2014 | 25280514 |
| comparative study of antennal and maxillary palp olfactory sensilla of female biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae: culicoides) in the context of host preference and phylogeny. | culicoides biting midges (diptera ceratopogonidae) are vectors of disease, including bluetongue and african horse sickness. host preference of these insects is primarily regulated by olfactory cues, detected by olfactory sensilla on the antennae and maxillary palps. in this study, we analyzed the sensillum repertoire of biting midge species with known host preferences. five different morphological sensillum types, sensilla trichodea, s. chaetica, s. ampullacea, s. coeloconica, and grooved peg se ... | 2013 | 23802442 |
| urban forests as hubs for novel zoonosis: blood meal analysis, seasonal variation in culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) vectors, and avian haemosporidians. | culicoides vectors can transmit a diverse array of parasites and are globally distributed. we studied feeding preferences and seasonal variation of culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) vectors in an urban forest of germany to determine whether humans living nearby are readily exposed to vector-borne parasites from wild animals. we used a fragment of the mtdna coi gene to identify hosts from blood meals. we amplified a fragment of the mtdna cyt b to detect haemosporidian infections in culicoides ... | 2013 | 23981661 |