English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Background   Culicoides  spp. play an important role in the transmission of several vector-borne pathogens such as Bluetongue and Schmallenberg virus in Europe. To better understand the biology of local  Culicoides  species, a study divided into three parts was performed in northeast Germany to elucidate the feeding activity patterns (study A), preferential landing and feeding sites (study B) and host feeding preferences (study C) of  Culicoides  spp. using cattle and sheep as baits.    Methods  In study A, the activity of  Culicoides  spp. was monitored over a 72 h period by collecting insects at regular intervals from the interior of drop traps with cattle or sheep standing inside. In study B,  Culicoides  spp. were directly aspirated from the coat and fleece of cattle and sheep during the peak activity period of  Culicoides . In study C,  Culicoides  spp. were collected using drop traps with either cattle or sheep standing inside and located 10 m apart.    Results  In study A, 3,545  Culicoides  midges belonging to 13 species were collected, peak activity was observed at sunset. In study B, 2,024  Culicoides  midges were collected. A significantly higher number of midges was collected from the belly and flank of cattle in comparison to their head region. In study C, 3,710  Culicoides  midges were collected; 3,077 (83%) originated from cattle and 633 (17%) from sheep. Nearly half (46.7%) of the midges collected from cattle were engorged, significantly more than the number of engorged midges collected from sheep (7.5%).  Culicoides  from the Obsoletus complex ( C. obsoletus  and  C. scoticus ) were the most common  Culicoides  species encountered, followed by  C. punctatus . Other species identified were  C. dewulfi ,  C. chiopterus ,  C. pulicaris ,  C. lupicaris ,  C. pallidicornis ,  C. subfascipennis ,  C. achrayi ,  C. stigma ,  C. griseidorsum  and  C. subfagineus , the last two species are reported for the first time in Germany .  Engorged  C. chiopterus  were collected in relatively high numbers from sheep, suggesting that this species may have a preference for sheep.    Conclusions  An insight into the feeding behaviour of local  Culicoides  species under field conditions in northeast Germany was obtained, with implications for the implementation of control measures and midge-borne disease risk analysis.

Feeding behaviour of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) on cattle and sheep in northeast Germany