Molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild-caught Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces, Thailand

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been reported as potential vectors for haemoparasites. Information about host-vector-parasite specificity is required to confirm their status. Here, molecular detection of haemosporidians, Leishmania, trypanosomatids, and filarial nematodes in...

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Main Authors: Kyi Soe Baby, Kaewmee Saowalak, Mano Chonlada, Pattanawong Urassaya, Tipparawong Nopporn, Siriyasatien Padet, Gatherer Derek, Urbaniak Michael D., Bates Paul A., Jariyapan Narissara
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Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:Parasite
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Online Access:https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2025/01/parasite240169/parasite240169.html
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author Kyi Soe Baby
Kaewmee Saowalak
Mano Chonlada
Pattanawong Urassaya
Tipparawong Nopporn
Siriyasatien Padet
Gatherer Derek
Urbaniak Michael D.
Bates Paul A.
Jariyapan Narissara
author_facet Kyi Soe Baby
Kaewmee Saowalak
Mano Chonlada
Pattanawong Urassaya
Tipparawong Nopporn
Siriyasatien Padet
Gatherer Derek
Urbaniak Michael D.
Bates Paul A.
Jariyapan Narissara
author_sort Kyi Soe Baby
collection DOAJ
description Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been reported as potential vectors for haemoparasites. Information about host-vector-parasite specificity is required to confirm their status. Here, molecular detection of haemosporidians, Leishmania, trypanosomatids, and filarial nematodes in biting midges was conducted to understand their potential role as vectors, and their host preference was determined. Wild-caught biting midges were collected from six different localities of Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces, Thailand. A total of 6,578 individual Culicoides (170 males, 6,408 females) comprising 15 species of six sub-genera and two groups were collected. Also, 738 parous females and 29 engorged females were examined for parasites and host blood meals, respectively. Culicoides arakawae, C. mahasarakhamense, C. peregrinus and C. innoxius in Chiang Mai province, and C. innoxius and C. peregrinus in Nakhon Si Thammarat province were the most dominant species. Leucocytozoon spp., Leucocytozoon caulleryi and Plasmodium juxtanucleare were identified in five Culicoides species including C. mahasarakhamense, C. arakawae, C. oxystoma, C. fulvus, and C. guttifer. This study is the first record of L. caulleryi in the biting midge C. arakawae in Thailand. Blood meal analysis revealed that Culicoides primarily fed on cattle (17/29, 58.6%), followed by chickens (10/29, 34.5%), and humans (2/29, 6.9%). Our findings confirmed the existence of several Culicoides species in Thailand, which might be potential vectors for transmission of haemosporidians (Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium). Information from host blood meal analyses underlined their preference for large mammals, followed by domestic chickens. More anthropophilic Culicoides species remain to be discovered.
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spelling doaj-art-04e87b17718d4ea1b66b3f1d114ee9d72025-02-07T08:26:35ZengEDP SciencesParasite1776-10422025-01-0132210.1051/parasite/2024082parasite240169Molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild-caught Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces, ThailandKyi Soe Baby0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0806-1647Kaewmee Saowalak1Mano Chonlada2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3105-2255Pattanawong Urassaya3Tipparawong Nopporn4Siriyasatien Padet5Gatherer Derek6Urbaniak Michael D.7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2745-9420Bates Paul A.8Jariyapan Narissara9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5338-6213Center of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityCenter of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityCenter of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityMolecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityDepartment of Pathology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial HospitalCenter of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityDivision of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster UniversityDivision of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster UniversityDivision of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster UniversityCenter of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityCulicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been reported as potential vectors for haemoparasites. Information about host-vector-parasite specificity is required to confirm their status. Here, molecular detection of haemosporidians, Leishmania, trypanosomatids, and filarial nematodes in biting midges was conducted to understand their potential role as vectors, and their host preference was determined. Wild-caught biting midges were collected from six different localities of Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces, Thailand. A total of 6,578 individual Culicoides (170 males, 6,408 females) comprising 15 species of six sub-genera and two groups were collected. Also, 738 parous females and 29 engorged females were examined for parasites and host blood meals, respectively. Culicoides arakawae, C. mahasarakhamense, C. peregrinus and C. innoxius in Chiang Mai province, and C. innoxius and C. peregrinus in Nakhon Si Thammarat province were the most dominant species. Leucocytozoon spp., Leucocytozoon caulleryi and Plasmodium juxtanucleare were identified in five Culicoides species including C. mahasarakhamense, C. arakawae, C. oxystoma, C. fulvus, and C. guttifer. This study is the first record of L. caulleryi in the biting midge C. arakawae in Thailand. Blood meal analysis revealed that Culicoides primarily fed on cattle (17/29, 58.6%), followed by chickens (10/29, 34.5%), and humans (2/29, 6.9%). Our findings confirmed the existence of several Culicoides species in Thailand, which might be potential vectors for transmission of haemosporidians (Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium). Information from host blood meal analyses underlined their preference for large mammals, followed by domestic chickens. More anthropophilic Culicoides species remain to be discovered.https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2025/01/parasite240169/parasite240169.htmlculicoidesmidgeleucocytozoonplasmodiumparasitesthailand
spellingShingle Kyi Soe Baby
Kaewmee Saowalak
Mano Chonlada
Pattanawong Urassaya
Tipparawong Nopporn
Siriyasatien Padet
Gatherer Derek
Urbaniak Michael D.
Bates Paul A.
Jariyapan Narissara
Molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild-caught Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces, Thailand
Parasite
culicoides
midge
leucocytozoon
plasmodium
parasites
thailand
title Molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild-caught Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces, Thailand
title_full Molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild-caught Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces, Thailand
title_fullStr Molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild-caught Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces, Thailand
title_full_unstemmed Molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild-caught Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces, Thailand
title_short Molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild-caught Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces, Thailand
title_sort molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild caught culicoides biting midges diptera ceratopogonidae in chiang mai and nakhon si thammarat provinces thailand
topic culicoides
midge
leucocytozoon
plasmodium
parasites
thailand
url https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2025/01/parasite240169/parasite240169.html
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