Vector capacity of (pre-)alpine biting midges (Ceratopogonidae, Culicoides spp.) for orbiviruses

• Unité de recherche: OSAV
• Numéro de projet: 1.15.12
• Titre du projet anglais: Vector capacity of (pre-)alpine biting midges (Ceratopogonidae, Culicoides spp.) for orbiviruses

Mots-clé (Allemand)

Blauzungenkrankheits-Virus, Culicoides spp., Serotypen, Vektorkapazität, Populationsdynamik, Bruthabitate, Bionomik, präalpine Region.

Mots-clé (Anglais)

Bluetongue virus, Culicoides spp., serotypes, vector capacity, population dynamics, breeding habitats, bionomics, pre-alpine region.

Description succincte (Allemand)

Gnitzen der Gattung Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) sind Überträger (Vektoren) von veterinärmedizinisch wichtigen Viren (z.B. Blauzungenkrankheits-Virus [BTV], Schmallenberg Virus; Afrikanische Pferdepest Virus). Während in tieferen Lagen in Europa Culicoides Arten des Obsoletus-Komplexes fast ausschliesslich dominieren und deren Vektor Rolle belegt ist, überwiegen in höheren Lagen in der Schweiz Arten des Pulicaris Komplexes, vor allem C. griscescens, über welche kaum etwas bekannt ist betreffend ihrer Biologie und ihrer Eigenschaften als mögliche Vektoren. Mit diesem Projekt sollen die biologischen und klimatischen Bedingungen einer möglichen Übertragung von verschiedenen Serotypen von BTV in höheren Lagen (1500 Meter über Meer) abgeklärt werden, einschliesslich Vektorkompetenz-Experimenten unter realistischen fluktuierenden Temperaturbedingungen. Dies wird als Basis dienen zur Entwicklung von prädiktiven Modellen der Übertragungsdynamik von Culicoides-bürtigen viralen Krankheiten in solchen präalpinen Gebieten.

Description succincte (Anglais)

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of viruses of veterinary importance (e.g. bluetongue disease virus [BTV], Schmallenberg virus, African horse sickness virus). While Culicoides species of the Obsoletus complex almost exclusively dominate at lower altitudes in Europe and their vector role is documented, species of the Pulicaris complex, particularly C. grisescens, about which hardly anything is known with regard to their biology and features as potential vectors, prevail at higher elevations in Switzerland. With this project, the biological and climatic conditions of a possible transmission of several BTV serotypes at higher altitudes (1500 meters above sea level) shall be clarified, including vector competence experiments under realistic fluctuating temperature regimes. This will serve as a basis to develop predictive models on the dynamics of Culicoides-borne viral diseases at such pre-alpine areas.

Objectifs du projet (Anglais)

The objective of the project is to contribute to a risk assessment of BTV transmission at pre-alpine altitudes in Switzerland. To this aim, parameters relevant for vector capacity (vector competence, life history traits, population dynamics) are determined for pre-alpine Culicoides spp. in the field or under realistic climate conditions in the laboratory.

Publications / Résultats (Allemand)

Documents annexés

• 1.15.12 Mathis Publikation, November 2018 [PDF] 699 kB

Publications / Résultats (Anglais)

Publications (in preparations): 1. Vector competence of pre-alpine Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for bluetongue virus serotypes 1, 4, and 8. 2. Population dynamics, breeding habitats and host preferences of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), the vectors of the bluetongue virus, at pre-alpine regions.

Presentations:

1. “Bionomics and vector competence among pre alpine Culicoides species in Switzerland”. XXV International Congress of Entomology (Orlando, Florida, USA; September 25-30, 2016).

2. „Retrospective study on Culicoides distribution and dynamics, along an altitude transect in Switzerland“. VectorNet annual meeting (Antwerp, Belgium; February 21-23 2017).

3. “Vector capacity of (pre-) alpine biting midges (Ceratopogonidae, Culicoides spp.) for orbiviruses”. Insitute Seminar, Institute of Parasitology (University of Zürich, Switzerland; May 23, 2017).

4.” Bionomics and vector competence among pre-alpine Culicoides species in Switzerland”. Swiss Vector Entomology Group, Annual Scientific Meeting (Lausanne, Switzerland; June 19-20, 2017).

5. “Population dynamics of (pre-) alpine biting midges (Ceratopogonidae, Culicoides spp.) and their vector competence for bluetongue virus”. Society for Vector Ecology -7h International Congress (Palma de Mallorca, Spain; October 1-7, 2017).

6. “Vector capacity of pre-alpine Culicoides for bluetongue virus”. Society for Vector Ecology -7h International Congress (Palma de Mallorca, Spain; October 1-7, 2017).

Adresses URL (Allemand)

1.15.12 Mathis Vektor-Kapazität von (prä-)alpinen Gnitzen (Ceratopogonidae, Culicoides spp.) für Or…