culicoides; Belgium; population dynamics; Schmallenberg virus
Abstract :
[en] In 2011, Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were collected at 16 locations covering four regions of Belgium with Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) traps and at two locations with Rothamsted suction traps (RSTs). Quantification of the collections and morphological identification showed important variations in abundance and species diversity between individual collection sites, even for sites located in the same region. However, consistently higher numbers of Culicoides midges were collected at some sites compared with others. When species abundance and diversity were analysed at regional level, between-site variation disappeared. Overall, species belonging to the subgenus Avaritia together with Culicoides pulicaris (subgenus Culicoides) were the most abundant, accounting for 80% and 96% of all midges collected with RSTs and OVI traps, respectively. Culicoides were present during most of the year, with Culicoides obsoletus complex midges found from 9 February until 27 December. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction screening for Schmallenberg virus in the heads of collected midges resulted in the first detection of the virus in August 2011 and identified C. obsoletus complex, Culicoides chiopterus and Culicoides dewulfi midges as putative vector species. At Libramont in the south of Belgium, no positive pools were identified.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Losson, Bertrand ; Université de Liège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Parasitologie et pathologie des maladies parasitaires
De Regge, N
Deblauwe, I
Fassotte, C
Madder, M
Ventieghem, P
Tomme, M
Smeets, F
Cay, B
Language :
English
Title :
Culicoides monitoring in Belgium in 2011: Analysis of spatio-temporal abundance, species diversity and Schmallenberg virus detection.
Alternative titles :
[en] Suivi des populations de Culicoïdes en Belgique en 2011: Analyse de l'abondance spatio-temporelle, de la diversité en espèces et détection du virus Schmallenberg
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