BACKGROUND: Although avian trypanosomes are widespread parasites, the knowledge of their vectors is still incomplete. Despite biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are considered as potential vectors of avian trypanosomes, their role in transmission has not been satisfactorily elucidated. Our aim was to clarify the potential of biting midges to sustain the development of avian trypanosomes by testing their susceptibility to different strains of avian trypanosomes experimentally. Moreover, we screened biting midges for natural infections in the wild. RESULTS: Laboratory-bred biting midges Culicoides nubeculosus were highly susceptible to trypanosomes from the Trypanosoma bennetti and T. avium clades. Infection rates reached 100%, heavy infections developed in 55-87% of blood-fed females. Parasite stages from the insect gut were infective for birds. Moreover, midges could be infected after feeding on a trypanosome-positive bird. Avian trypanosomes can thus complete their cycle in birds and biting midges. Furthermore, we succeeded to find infected blood meal-free biting midges in the wild. CONCLUSIONS: Biting midges are probable vectors of avian trypanosomes belonging to T. bennetti group. Midges are highly susceptible to artificial infections, can be infected after feeding on birds, and T. bennetti-infected biting midges (Culicoides spp.) have been found in nature. Moreover, midges can be used as model hosts producing metacyclic avian trypanosome stages infective for avian hosts.
- MeSH
- Ceratopogonidae anatomie a histologie parazitologie MeSH
- gastrointestinální trakt parazitologie MeSH
- hmyz - vektory parazitologie MeSH
- hostitelská specificita MeSH
- kanáři parazitologie MeSH
- mikroskopie elektronová rastrovací MeSH
- nemoci ptáků parazitologie přenos MeSH
- polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
- ptáci parazitologie MeSH
- Trypanosoma klasifikace genetika fyziologie ultrastruktura MeSH
- trypanozomiáza diagnóza parazitologie přenos veterinární MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
A new species, Culicoides paradoxalis Ramilo and Delécolle (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), is described from specimens collected in France (Corsica and southeast region) and Portugal. This species resembles Culicoides lupicaris Downes and Kettle, and can be distinguished from this species and from Culicoides newsteadi Austen by its wing pattern, in addition to the absence of spines on the tarsomere 4 of female mid leg. In male, the presence of two appendices on the sternite 9 together with the absence of sensilla coeloconica on the flagellomere 11 is also useful to distinguish these three species. Separation from other members of the Culicoides subgenus is confirmed by the analysis of the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial marker.
- MeSH
- anatomické struktury zvířat anatomie a histologie MeSH
- Ceratopogonidae anatomie a histologie klasifikace genetika MeSH
- ekosystém MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
- rozšíření zvířat MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Portugalsko MeSH
