<i>Culicoides</i> Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance
<i>Culicoides</i> biting midges, small hematophagous dipterans, are the demonstrated or putative vectors of multiple arboviruses of veterinary and public health importance. Despite its relevance in disease spread, the ceratopogonid genus <i>Culicoides</i> is still a largely n...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/11/4/376 |
| _version_ | 1819093983108792320 |
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| author | Franziska Sick Martin Beer Helge Kampen Kerstin Wernike |
| author_facet | Franziska Sick Martin Beer Helge Kampen Kerstin Wernike |
| author_sort | Franziska Sick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Culicoides</i> biting midges, small hematophagous dipterans, are the demonstrated or putative vectors of multiple arboviruses of veterinary and public health importance. Despite its relevance in disease spread, the ceratopogonid genus <i>Culicoides</i> is still a largely neglected group of species, predominantly because the major human-affecting arboviruses are considered to be transmitted by mosquitoes. However, when a pathogen is detected in a certain vector species, a thorough search for further vectors often remains undone and, therefore, the relevant vector species may remain unknown. Furthermore, for many hematophagous arthropods, true vector competence is often merely suspected and not experimentally proven. Therefore, we aim to illuminate the general impact of <i>Culicoides</i> biting midges and to summarize the knowledge about biting midge-borne disease agents using the order <i>Bunyavirales</i>, the largest and most diverse group of RNA viruses, as an example. When considering only viruses evidentially transmitted by <i>Culicoides</i> midges, the Simbu serogroup (genus <i>Orthobunyavirus</i>) is presumably the most important group within the virus order. Its members are of great veterinary importance, as a variety of simbuviruses, e.g., the species <i>Akabane orthobunyavirus</i> or <i>Schmallenberg orthobunyavirus</i>, induces severe congenital infections in pregnant animals. The major zoonotic representative of this serogroup occurs in South and Central America and causes the so-called Oropouche fever, an acute febrile illness in humans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:20:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e82811d24fca4442b94cf2f23551c31d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:20:10Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-e82811d24fca4442b94cf2f23551c31d2022-12-21T18:46:49ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152019-04-0111437610.3390/v11040376v11040376<i>Culicoides</i> Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary ImportanceFranziska Sick0Martin Beer1Helge Kampen2Kerstin Wernike3Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, GermanyInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, GermanyInstitute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, GermanyInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany<i>Culicoides</i> biting midges, small hematophagous dipterans, are the demonstrated or putative vectors of multiple arboviruses of veterinary and public health importance. Despite its relevance in disease spread, the ceratopogonid genus <i>Culicoides</i> is still a largely neglected group of species, predominantly because the major human-affecting arboviruses are considered to be transmitted by mosquitoes. However, when a pathogen is detected in a certain vector species, a thorough search for further vectors often remains undone and, therefore, the relevant vector species may remain unknown. Furthermore, for many hematophagous arthropods, true vector competence is often merely suspected and not experimentally proven. Therefore, we aim to illuminate the general impact of <i>Culicoides</i> biting midges and to summarize the knowledge about biting midge-borne disease agents using the order <i>Bunyavirales</i>, the largest and most diverse group of RNA viruses, as an example. When considering only viruses evidentially transmitted by <i>Culicoides</i> midges, the Simbu serogroup (genus <i>Orthobunyavirus</i>) is presumably the most important group within the virus order. Its members are of great veterinary importance, as a variety of simbuviruses, e.g., the species <i>Akabane orthobunyavirus</i> or <i>Schmallenberg orthobunyavirus</i>, induces severe congenital infections in pregnant animals. The major zoonotic representative of this serogroup occurs in South and Central America and causes the so-called Oropouche fever, an acute febrile illness in humans.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/11/4/376<i>Culicoides</i>biting midgestransmissioninsect vector<i>Bunyavirales</i>orthobunyavirusSimbu serogroupSchmallenberg virusAkabane virus |
| spellingShingle | Franziska Sick Martin Beer Helge Kampen Kerstin Wernike <i>Culicoides</i> Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance Viruses <i>Culicoides</i> biting midges transmission insect vector <i>Bunyavirales</i> orthobunyavirus Simbu serogroup Schmallenberg virus Akabane virus |
| title | <i>Culicoides</i> Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance |
| title_full | <i>Culicoides</i> Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance |
| title_fullStr | <i>Culicoides</i> Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Culicoides</i> Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance |
| title_short | <i>Culicoides</i> Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance |
| title_sort | i culicoides i biting midges underestimated vectors for arboviruses of public health and veterinary importance |
| topic | <i>Culicoides</i> biting midges transmission insect vector <i>Bunyavirales</i> orthobunyavirus Simbu serogroup Schmallenberg virus Akabane virus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/11/4/376 |
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