Abstract
BackgroundBiting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) transmit pathogens that cause important diseases. No effective technique has been found to properly control either Culicoides spp. abundance or their likelihood to transmit pathogens. Endosymbionts, particularly Wolbachia, represent powerful alternatives to control arthropods of health interest. In arthropods, Wolbachia can reduce vector fitness and vector’s pathogen transmission capacity, thus being a potential target for population reduction and replacement strategies.ResultsThe presence of Wolbachia and Cardinium endosymbionts was screened in Spanish Culicoides spp. populations at livestock premises and natural habitats. The first detection of Wolbachia-infected Culicoides spp. in Europe is reported. The putative Palaearctic vectors for bluetongue and Schmallenberg diseases, C. imicola, C. obsoletus (s.s.) and C. pulicaris (s.l.), were infected with Wolbachia. Four genetic clusters of closely-related Wolbachia strains from A and B supergroups were detected infecting Culicoides. Cardinium strain of the C-group was detected in C. obsoletus (s.l.). Both endosymbionts, Wolbachia and Cardinium, were detected in Culicoides species of minor epidemiological relevance as well. Higher prevalence of Wolbachia infection was detected in natural habitats, while livestock premises lead to higher prevalence of Cardinium. Significant differences in the prevalence of Wolbachia, but not Cardinium, were also detected between some Culicoides species and between locations.ConclusionsThe presence of Wolbachia and Cardinium endosymbionts in Culicoides is expected to trigger new research towards the control of Culicoides-transmitted diseases. The results of the present study could have an impact beyond the Culicoides arena because successful Wolbachia transfection is possible even across genus and species barriers.
Highlights
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) transmit pathogens that cause important diseases
The present study examined whether Wolbachia and Cardinium bacterial endosymbionts naturally infected Culicoides species communities across Spanish ecosystems
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening for Wolbachia and Cardinium allowed the detection of endosymbionts in several Culicoides populations (Fig. 1)
Summary
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) transmit pathogens that cause important diseases. No effective technique has been found to properly control either Culicoides spp. abundance or their likelihood to transmit pathogens. Wolbachia can reduce vector fitness and vector’s pathogen transmission capacity, being a potential target for population reduction and replacement strategies. Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are well known worldwide for transmitting pathogens that cause important diseases. In Europe, Culicoides became a major concern for spreading the largest Bluetongue (BT) epizootics ever recorded [1]. No effective vector control technique or approach to limit the likelihood of pathogen transmission has been found for Culicoides [7, 8]
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