Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia.
To evaluate the host preferences of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Central Tunisia, we identified the source of blood meals of field collected specimens by sequencing of the cytochrome b (cyt b) mitochondrial locus and Prepronociceptine single copy nuclear gene. The study includes...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2015-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120528 |
| _version_ | 1831586521997639680 |
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| author | Darine Slama Najoua Haouas Habib Mezhoud Hamouda Babba Emna Chaker |
| author_facet | Darine Slama Najoua Haouas Habib Mezhoud Hamouda Babba Emna Chaker |
| author_sort | Darine Slama |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To evaluate the host preferences of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Central Tunisia, we identified the source of blood meals of field collected specimens by sequencing of the cytochrome b (cyt b) mitochondrial locus and Prepronociceptine single copy nuclear gene. The study includes the most common and abundant livestock associated species of biting midges in Tunisia: C. imicola, C. jumineri, C. newsteadi, C. paolae, C. cataneii, C. circumscriptus, C. kingi, C. pseudojumineri, C. submaritimus, C. langeroni, C. jumineri var and some unidentified C. species. Analysis of cyt b PCR products from 182 field collected blood-engorged females' midges revealed that 92% of them fed solely on mammalian species, 1.6% on birds, 2.4% on insects and 0.8% on reptiles. The blast results identified the blood origin of biting midges to the species level with exact or nearly exact matches (≥98%). The results confirm the presence of several Culicoides species, including proven vectors in Central Tunisia. Blood meal analyses show that these species will indeed feed on bigger mammals, thereby highlighting the risk that these viruses will be able to spread in Tunisia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:38:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dbb5201c9b1f4367bcf11dcc6c52009c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:38:05Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-dbb5201c9b1f4367bcf11dcc6c52009c2022-12-21T21:31:41ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01103e012052810.1371/journal.pone.0120528Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia.Darine SlamaNajoua HaouasHabib MezhoudHamouda BabbaEmna ChakerTo evaluate the host preferences of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Central Tunisia, we identified the source of blood meals of field collected specimens by sequencing of the cytochrome b (cyt b) mitochondrial locus and Prepronociceptine single copy nuclear gene. The study includes the most common and abundant livestock associated species of biting midges in Tunisia: C. imicola, C. jumineri, C. newsteadi, C. paolae, C. cataneii, C. circumscriptus, C. kingi, C. pseudojumineri, C. submaritimus, C. langeroni, C. jumineri var and some unidentified C. species. Analysis of cyt b PCR products from 182 field collected blood-engorged females' midges revealed that 92% of them fed solely on mammalian species, 1.6% on birds, 2.4% on insects and 0.8% on reptiles. The blast results identified the blood origin of biting midges to the species level with exact or nearly exact matches (≥98%). The results confirm the presence of several Culicoides species, including proven vectors in Central Tunisia. Blood meal analyses show that these species will indeed feed on bigger mammals, thereby highlighting the risk that these viruses will be able to spread in Tunisia.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120528 |
| spellingShingle | Darine Slama Najoua Haouas Habib Mezhoud Hamouda Babba Emna Chaker Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia. PLoS ONE |
| title | Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia. |
| title_full | Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia. |
| title_fullStr | Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia. |
| title_short | Blood meal analysis of culicoides (Diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central Tunisia. |
| title_sort | blood meal analysis of culicoides diptera ceratopogonidae in central tunisia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120528 |
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