An update of the Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) checklist for the Balkans

Dubravka Pudar,Mihaela Kavran,Ognyan Mikov,Claire Garros,Nazlı Ayhan,Aleksandar Cvetkovikj,Aleksandra Ignjatović Ćupina,Jovana Stefanovska,Teufik Goletić,Slavica Vaselek,Xavier Allène,Daniela Petrić ,I Pajović ,Filiz Günay ,Tereza Leštinová ,Kristýna Hlavačková ,Bülent Alten ,Bruno Mathieu,Almedina Zuko,Ignace Rakotoarivony,Thomas Balenghien

doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3051-x

Abstract

BackgroundThe prime significance of species belonging to the genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is their ability to transmit viruses such as bluetongue virus (BTV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Prior to 1998, BTV was considered exotic in Europe, but according to recent history of its outbreaks, it has become endemic in southern and eastern European countries circulating beyond its expected historical limits, into the Balkan region. The wind-borne long-distance dispersal of Culicoides spp. over water bodies and local spreading between farms emphasize the necessity of filling in the information gaps regarding vector species distribution. In most Balkan countries, data on Culicoides fauna and species distribution are lacking, or information is old and scarce.ResultsDuring this study, 8586 specimens belonging to 41 species were collected. We present the first faunistic data on Culicoides species in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. For other countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Croatia), all historical records were compiled for the first time and then expanded with our findings to various extents. In all countries, confirmed or suspected BTV vector species belonging to the subgenera Avaritia and Culicoides were collected. The total number of species sampled during our field collections was 20 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (15 new records), 10 in Bulgaria (2 new records), 10 in Croatia (5 new records), 13 in FYROM, 9 in Kosovo, 15 in Montenegro, and 28 in Serbia. Of these, 14 species were registered for the first time in this part of the Balkans.ConclusionsThis paper provides the first data about Culicoides fauna in FYROM, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as new records and an update on the checklists for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Croatia. These findings provide preliminary insights into the routes of BTV introduction and spreading within the Balkans, and present a valuable contribution to further research related to Culicoides-borne diseases in Europe.

Highlights

The prime significance of species belonging to the genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is their ability to transmit viruses such as bluetongue virus (BTV) to wild and domestic ruminants
C. punctatus, C. newsteadi and C. obsoletus/C. scoticus were recorded in all inspected countries during our study
It should be emphasized that C. trivittatus was identified in Croatia; this represents the first record of the species in Europe

Summary

Introduction

The prime significance of species belonging to the genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is their ability to transmit viruses such as bluetongue virus (BTV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Prior to 1998, BTV was considered exotic in Europe, but according to recent history of its outbreaks, it has become endemic in southern and eastern European countries circulating beyond its expected historical limits, into the Balkan region. Bluetongue (BT), which has to be reported to the Office International des Épizooties (OIE) [1, 7], is caused by BTV, affecting domestic and wild ruminants, in particular certain breeds of sheep (causing severe clinical disease and in some cases significant mortality) [8], and cattle [9] and goats [10]. Thanks to the implementation of compulsory BT vaccination in Europe resulting in a massive reduction of BTV cases, outbreaks were limited and some countries were back to a free BTV status

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion