Oviposition of Culicoides insignis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) under laboratory conditions with notes on the developmental life history traits of its immature stages.

Background: Culicoides insignis is a confirmed vector of bluetongue virus (BTV) throughout the American tropics and a possible vector of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in Florida. Despite its importance, fundamental information on the biology and ecology of this vector species is lacking. In this study, we examined the oviposition of C.

Host Bloodmeal Source Has No Significant Effect on the Fecundity and Subsequent Larval Development Traits of the Progeny in Culicoides furens Poey (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Culicoides Latreille species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are insects of significant medical and veterinary importance worldwide because their bites can cause major annoyance, allergic reactions, and/or pathogen transmission to vertebrates, including humans. In this study, we examined the effect of host bloodmeal source on the fecundity and subsequent larval development traits of the progeny of Culicoides furens Poey, a nuisance species in coastal Florida. Field-collected females were fed on two different classes of hosts: birds (chicken) or mammals (human).

Vector Competence of Florida (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype-2.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV; family , genus ) is an arthropod-borne virus of ungulates, primarily white-tailed deer in North America. , the only confirmed North American vector of EHDV, is rarely collected from Florida despite annual virus outbreaks. is an abundant species in Florida and is also a confirmed vector of the closely related Bluetongue virus.

Tracking Community Timing: Pattern and Determinants of Seasonality in (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Northern Florida.

Community dynamics are embedded in hierarchical spatial-temporal scales that connect environmental drivers with species assembly processes. species are hematophagous arthropod vectors of orbiviruses that impact wild and domestic ruminants. A better sense of dynamics over time is important because sympatric species can lengthen the seasonality of virus transmission.

Laboratory Rearing of Culicoides stellifer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a Suspected Vector of Orbiviruses in the United States.

Laboratory rearing procedures of Culicoides stellifer Coquillett (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were evaluated with an aim towards colonization of this species. Eggs collected from field-collected gravid females were placed on 0.25% agar slants and given a diet of 1) nematodes (Panagrellus redivivus Linnaeus), 2) nematodes + lactalbumin and yeast (LY), 3) microbes from nematode medium, and 4) tap water (autoclaved).

Habitat associations of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) abundant on a commercial cervid farm in Florida, USA.

Background: Biting midges in the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) transmit bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) to ruminants, thus exerting a significant economic impact on animal agriculture worldwide. However, very little is known about the larval habitat characteristics of Culicoides species associated with BTV/EHDV transmission, particularly in southeastern USA, limiting the establishment of effective midge control strategies. In this study, we examined the habitat associations of Culicoides species abundant on a commercial cervid farm in Florida, USA and quantified several environmental variables of their habitat to identify the key variables associated with midge abundance.

Vector Competence of (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 2 Strains from Canada and Florida.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), an transmitted by spp. vectors, is represented by seven serotypes and numerous strains worldwide. While studies comparing vector competence between serotypes exist, studies between viral strains are lacking.

Laboratory studies on the oviposition stimuli of Culicoides stellifer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a suspected vector of Orbiviruses in the United States.

Background: Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) exert a significant impact on animal agriculture worldwide because they transmit bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) to ruminants. Without effective vaccines, BTV/EHDV vector management strategies are needed, particularly in commercial white-tailed deer (WTD) facilities. However, detailed information on the ecology of midge immatures in/around cervid operations is currently lacking.

Larval Development of Culicoides sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Mud Supplemented With Manure of Various Farm Animals.

Understanding factors that affect Culicoides larval development is critical in suppressing adult midge populations that transmit economically important pathogens to ruminants such as bluetongue virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus. In this study, development of Culicoides sonorensis Wirth and Jones (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) was investigated in sterilized mud mixed with varying concentrations (3.2, 6.

The midgut microbiota plays an essential role in sand fly vector competence for Leishmania major.

For many arthropod vectors, the diverse bacteria and fungi that inhabit the gut can negatively impact pathogen colonization. Our attempts to exploit antibiotic treatment of colonized Phlebotomus duboscqi sand flies in order to improve their vector competency for Leishmania major resulted instead in flies that were refractory to the development of transmissible infections due to the inability of the parasite to survive and to colonize the anterior midgut with infective, metacyclic stage promastigotes. The parasite survival and development defect could be overcome by feeding the flies on different symbiont bacteria but not by feeding them on bacterial supernatants or replete medium.

Impact of the blood meal on humoral immunity and microbiota in the gut of female Culicoides sonorensis.

Although Culicoides sonorensis is an important vector of orbiviruses causing significant disease in domestic and wild ruminants in the USA, little is known about factors contributing to midge vector competence. In other vectors such as mosquitoes, interactions among the humoral immune response, microbiota, and ingested pathogens within the vector gut directly impact pathogen survival and therefore vectoring potential. We recently described components of the humoral immune response in the reference transcriptome for adult female C.