caa a22 4500 445342803 CHVBK 20180317142819.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170323e20110401xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s00436-010-2123-4 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s00436-010-2123-4 Molecular identification of bloodmeals from biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides Latreille) in Denmark [Elektronische Daten] [Sandra Lassen, Søren Nielsen, Henrik Skovgård, Michael Kristensen] Culicoides vectors are critical to the survival and transmission of bluetongue virus as infection only occurs in areas or regions where competent vectors are present. The success of Culicoides biting midges as vectors is mainly related to their vast population sizes and to their means of dispersal. Their choice of host for blood feeding is sparsely described. The aim of the present study was to establish methods for the identification of bloodmeal hosts and determine the identity and diversity of bloodmeals of vertebrate hosts from wild-caught biting midges near livestock farms. The study includes some of the most common and abundant species of biting midges in Denmark: Culicoides obsoletus, Culicoides scoticus, Culicoides pulicaris and Culicoides punctatus. We collected 8,378 biting midges including nine species of Culicoides of which blood-fed specimens were found from six species. We identified 251 blood engorged biting midges, and hosts were identified in 115 of 125 analysed specimens (90%). Cow, roe deer, horse, mallard and wood pigeon were identified as hosts. The most abundant host species was cow, which constituted 73.9% of the total identified bloodmeals, but the common wood pigeon was found with a frequency as high as 18.3%. In conclusion, the molecular methods applied were proven useful in identifying bloodmeal hosts from different Culicoides species. The results indicate that Culicoides species are opportunistic in their choice of bloodmeal host with a preference for cattle when present, which is important to have in mind for epidemiologist when making predictive models. Accordingly, the results of this study will add useful parameters for modelling bluetongue virus transmission and in the development of veterinary contingency plans. Springer-Verlag, 2010 Lassen Sandra Department of Integrated Pest Management, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, DK-4200, Slagelse, Denmark aut Nielsen Søren Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark aut Skovgård Henrik Department of Integrated Pest Management, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, DK-4200, Slagelse, Denmark aut Kristensen Michael Department of Integrated Pest Management, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, DK-4200, Slagelse, Denmark aut Parasitology Research Springer-Verlag 108/4(2011-04-01), 823-829 0932-0113 108:4<823 2011 108 436 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2123-4 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2123-4 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Lassen Sandra Department of Integrated Pest Management, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, DK-4200, Slagelse, Denmark aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Nielsen Søren Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Skovgård Henrik Department of Integrated Pest Management, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, DK-4200, Slagelse, Denmark aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Kristensen Michael Department of Integrated Pest Management, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, DK-4200, Slagelse, Denmark aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Parasitology Research Springer-Verlag 108/4(2011-04-01), 823-829 0932-0113 108:4<823 2011 108 436 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer