title: Tabanids: neglected subjects of research, but important vectors of disease agents!
abstract: Tabanids are nuisance pests for people and livestock because of their painful and irritating bite, persistent biting behavior, and blood ingestion. About 4400 tabanid species have been described; they are seasonally present in all kinds of landscapes, latitudes, and altitudes. High populations have a significant economic impact on outdoor activities, tourism, and livestock production. Tabanids are also vectors of animal disease agents, including viruses, bacteria and parasites. However, tabanids have received little attention in comparison with other hematophagous Diptera. Here, we highlight the many direct and indirect impacts of tabanids and provide a brief summary of tabanid morphology, biology, and life cycle. Impacts include pathogen transmission, parasite transportation (Dermatobia hominis), biological transmission (Loa loa), and mechanical transmission of viruses, such as equine infectious anemia virus, protozoa, such as Trypanosoma evansi and Besnotia besnoiti, and bacteria, such as Bacillus anthracis and Anaplasma marginale. We discuss parameters of mechanical transmission and its mathematical modeling. Control methods for tabanid populations are also summarized; these include trapping, the use of insecticides, repellents, and livestock protection. Lastly recommendations are provided for the direction of future research.
authors.affiliation: UMR5175 CEFE, University Paul-Valéry, route de Mende, 34199 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy. Electronic address: fredericbaldacchino@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldacchino
authors.affiliation: Cirad-Bios, UMR-InterTryp, Montpellier F-34000, France; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. Electronic address: marc.desquesnes@cirad.fr.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desquesnes
authors.affiliation: 388 Church Street, Russell, Ontario K4R 1A8, Canada. Electronic address: smihok@rogers.com.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mihok
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Bâton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. Electronic address: lfoil@agcenter.lsu.edu.
authors.forename: Lane D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Foil
authors.affiliation: UMR5175 CEFE, University Paul-Valéry, route de Mende, 34199 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. Electronic address: gerard.duvallet@univ-montp3.fr.
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duvallet
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. Electronic address: fvetspj@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sathaporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jittapalapong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D004175:Diptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004199:Disease Vectors; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007300:Insect Control; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012098:Reproduction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Livestock; Mechanical transmission; Pathogens; Tabanid; Trapping; Vector control