Black fly diversity and molecular detection of blood parasites in Simulium khelangense (Diptera, Simuliidae) from Laos.

Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are significant pests and vectors transmitting pathogens to humans and other animals. However, knowledge of species diversity as well as their role as pests and vectors in Laos is limited, despite the country having abundant suitable lotic habitats, that is, running water. In this study, we collected wild adult black fly specimens from Laos.

Diversity and prevalence of Leucocytozoon in black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Thailand.

Background: Leucocytozoonosis, a parasitic disease of birds, is caused by haemosporidian protozoan parasites of the genus Leucocytozoon, which infect diverse avian species, including poultry. These parasites are transmitted by several black fly species, but knowledge of the factors determining the diversity and prevalence in these vectors, which is crucial for fully understanding disease epidemiology, is largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated factors associated with the prevalence and diversity of Leucocytozoon species in black flies from Thailand.

Discovery of the Larvae and Pupae of the Black Fly () and Breeding Habitats of Potential Pest Species of the . (.) Subgroup (Simuliidae).

Two species of black flies (Simuliidae) in Thailand, Takaoka and Kuvangkadilok, 2000, and Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung, 2022, are potent vectors of avian blood protozoa of the genera and and are pests of domestic avian species. Although the adults are abundant throughout Thailand, information on their breeding habitats is limited, and the immature stages of are unknown. We collected the larvae and pupae of from the Mekong River, the first-ever record of Simuliidae from this large continental river.

Molecular detection of blood protozoa and identification of black flies of the Simulium varicorne species group (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Thailand.

Species of the Simulium varicorne group in Thailand have veterinary significance as vectors of haemosporidian parasites. Accurate identification is, therefore, critical to the study of vectors and parasites. We used morphology and molecular markers to investigate cryptic genetic lineages in samples identified as Simulium chumpornense Takaoka & Kuvangkadilok, 2000.

Diversity, Distribution and Host Blood Meal Analysis of Adult Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thailand.

Understanding the factors associated with the species diversity and distribution of insect vectors is critically important for disease epidemiology. Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are significant hematophagous insects, as many species are pests and vectors that transmit pathogens to humans and other animals. Ecological factors associated with black fly species distribution have been extensively examined for the immature stages but are far less well explored for the adult stage.

Fast-evolving nuclear genes as barcoding markers for black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Thailand.

Rapid and accurate identification is a prerequisite for the study of all aspects of species, particularly for pests and vectors. Black flies are economically significant blood-sucking insects, as many species are pests and vectors that transmit parasites to humans and other animals. We examined the efficiency of two fast-evolving nuclear genes, elongator complex protein 1 (ECP1) and big zinc finger (BZF), for identifying 13 nominal species in three species-groups of black flies, the Simulium multistriatum, S.

Molecular detection of avian haemosporidian parasites in biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Thailand.

Culicoides biting midges are vectors of many haemosporidian parasite species. These parasites are found in several wild and domestic avian species in Thailand but knowledge of the insect vectors is very limited. In this study, a molecular approach was used to detect haemosporidian parasites in six biting midge species in Thailand.

Integrative taxonomy uncovers a new Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midge species from Thailand.

Fully understanding biodiversity often requires an integrated approach especially for small insects because species diagnostic morphological characters are limited. In this study, morphological characters and DNA barcodes were used to examine previously recognized genetically divergent lineages detected in the biting midge, Culicoides arakawae (Arakawa), from Thailand. Morphological examinations revealed that specimens belonging to one lineage are morphologically different from C.

Molecular detection of Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida) in black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thailand.

Information regarding vector-parasite association is necessary for fully understanding the epidemiology of vector borne diseases yet, this information is lacking in the case of Leucocytozoonosis in the Oriental region, despite a high incidence of the disease. In this study, we used a molecular approach based on mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) sequence to detect the parasite, Leucocytozoon, in potential black fly (Simuliidae) vectors in Thailand. A total of 404 wild caught black flies representing six morphological species of two subgenera were examined.