title: Molecular identification of bloodmeals and species composition in Culicoides biting midges.
abstract: Investigations of host preferences in haematophagous insects, including Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), are critical in order to assess transmission routes of vector-borne diseases. In this study, we collected and morphologically identified 164 blood-engorged Culicoides females caught in both light traps and permanent 12-m high suction traps during 2008-2010 in Sweden. Molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene in the biting midges was performed to verify species classification, discern phylogenetic relationships and uncover possible cryptic species. Bloodmeal analysis using universal vertebrate cytochrome b primers revealed a clear distinction in host selection between mammalophilic and ornithophilic Culicoides species. Host sequences found matches in horse (n = 59), sheep (n = 39), cattle (n = 26), Eurasian elk (n = 1) and 10 different bird species (n = 18). We identified 15 Culicoides species previously recorded in Scandinavia and four additional species haplotypes that were distinctly different from the described species. All ornithophilic individuals (n = 23) were caught exclusively in the suction traps, as were, interestingly, almost all mammalophilic species (n = 41), indicating that many biting midge species may be able to cover long distances after completing a bloodmeal. These results add new information on the composition of Culicoides species and their host preferences and their potential long-distance dispersal while blood-engorged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Videvall
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bensch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ander
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chirico
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sigvald
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ignell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002519:Ceratopogonidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D007300:Insect Control; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013548:Sweden; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D045303:Cytochromes b; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV