Barcoding of the Genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Austria-An Update of the Species Inventory Including the First Records of Three Species in Austria.

Carina Zittra,Bita Shahi Barogh,Peter Sehnal,Günther Wöss,Karin Bakran-Lebl,Hans-Peter Fuehrer,Lara Van Der Vloet

doi:10.3390/pathogens9050406

Carina Zittra, Bita Shahi Barogh + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9050406

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Abstract

Ceratopogonidae are small nematoceran Diptera with a worldwide distribution, consisting of more than 5400 described species, divided into 125 genera. The genus Culicoides is known to comprise hematophagous vectors of medical and veterinary importance. Diseases transmitted by Culicoides spp. Such as African horse sickness virus, Bluetongue virus, equine encephalitis virus (Reoviridae) and Schmallenberg virus (Bunyaviridae) affect large parts of Europe and are strongly linked to the spread and abundance of its vectors. However, Culicoides surveillance measures are not implemented regularly nor in the whole of Austria. In this study, 142 morphologically identified individuals were chosen for molecular analyses (barcoding) of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (mt COI). Molecular analyses mostly supported previous morphologic identification. Mismatches between results of molecular and morphologic analysis revealed three new Culicoides species in Austria, Culicoides gornostaevae Mirzaeva, 1984, which is a member of the Obsoletus group, C. griseidorsum Kieffer, 1918 and C. pallidicornis Kieffer, 1919 as well as possible cryptic species. We present here the first Austrian barcodes of the mt COI region of 26 Culicoides species and conclude that barcoding is a reliable tool with which to support morphologic analysis, especially with regard to the difficult to identify females of the medically and economically important genus Culicoides.

Highlights

Ceratopogonidae (Insecta: Diptera) are 0.5- to 3.0-mm long midges [1] with more than 5400 described species out of 125 genera and 38 groups [2,3]
Culicoides species is, with exception of some single studies [11], limited in Austria. This is mostly due to identification of Culicoides species to complex or group-level, but not to species-level [14], as identification of Culicoides spp. below group-level by morphology can be difficult or impossible if reliable morphologic characters are absent–especially in those species with weakly developed wing pattern
The term Obsoletus complex is mainly used for C. obsoletus, C. scoticus and C. montanus, in which the females cannot be distinguished by morphology

Summary

Introduction

Ceratopogonidae (Insecta: Diptera) are 0.5- to 3.0-mm long midges [1] with more than 5400 described species out of 125 genera and 38 groups [2,3]. In Europe, 567 ceratopogonid species are known [1]. Austroconops, Lasiohelea, Leptoconops and Culicoides, are obligate hematophagous biting midges and vectors of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance or are at least known as a biting nuisance [4]. Members of the genus Culicoides are important vectors of economically important viruses such as African horse sickness (AHS) virus, Bluetongue (BT). Culicoides spp. cause common allergic dermatitis in Icelandic horses and insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), known as sweet itch [10]

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