Correction to: The tree that hides the forest : cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level

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The tree that hides the forest : cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level

Correction: Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Article Number: 483 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04349-yBackgroundCulicoides obsoletus is an abundant and widely distributed Holarctic biting midge species, involved in the transmission of bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Females of this vector species are often reported jointly with two morphologically very close species, C. scoticus and C. montanus, forming the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Recently, cryptic diversity within C. obsoletus was reported in geographically distant sites. Clear delineation of species and characterization of genetic variability is mandatory to revise their taxonomic status and assess the vector role of each taxonomic entity. Our objectives were to characterize and map the cryptic diversity within the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex.MethodsPortion of the cox1 mitochondrial gene of 3763 individuals belonging to the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex was sequenced. Populations from 20 countries along a Palaearctic Mediterranean transect covering Scandinavia to Canary islands (North to South) and Canary islands to Turkey (West to East) were included. Genetic diversity based on cox1 barcoding was supported by 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene sequences and a gene coding for ribosomal 28S rDNA. Species delimitation using a multi-marker methodology was used to revise the current taxonomic scheme of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex.ResultsOur analysis showed the existence of three phylogenetic clades (C. obsoletus clade O2, C. obsoletus clade dark and one not yet named and identified) within C. obsoletus. These analyses also revealed two intra-specific clades within C. scoticus and raised questions about the taxonomic status of C. montanus.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, our study provides the first genetic characterization of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex on a large geographical scale and allows a revision of the current taxonomic classification for an important group of vector species of livestock viruses in the Palaearctic region.Peer reviewe

VectorNet Data Series 3: Culicoides Abundance Distribution Models for Europe and Surrounding Regions

This is the third in a planned series of data papers presenting modelled vector distributions produced during the ECDC and EFSA funded VectorNet project. The data package presented here includes those Culicoides vectors species first modelled in 2015 as part of the VectorNet gap analysis work namely C. imicola, C. obsoletus, C. scoticus, C. dewulfi, C. chiopterus, C. pulicaris, C. lupicaris, C. punctatus, and C. newsteadi. The known distributions of these species within the Project area (Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, and Eurasia) are currently incomplete to a greater or lesser degree. The models are designed to fill the gaps with predicted distributions, to provide a) first indication of vector species distributions across the project geographical extent, and b) assistance in targeting surveys to collect distribution data for those areas with no field validated information. The models are based on input data from light trap surveillance of adult Culicoides across continental Europe and surrounding regions (71.8°N –33.5°S, – 11.2°W – 62°E), concentrated in Western countries, supplemented by transect samples in eastern and northern Europe. Data from central EU are relatively sparse.Peer reviewe

A pan-European epidemiological study reveals honey bee colony survival depends on beekeeper education and disease control

Reports of honey bee population decline has spurred many national efforts to understand the extent of the problem and to identify causative or associated factors. However, our collective understanding of the factors has been hampered by a lack of joined up trans-national effort. Moreover, the impacts of beekeeper knowledge and beekeeping management practices have often been overlooked, despite honey bees being a managed pollinator. Here, we established a standardised active monitoring network for 5 798 apiaries over two consecutive years to quantify honey bee colony mortality across 17 European countries. Our data demonstrate that overwinter losses ranged between 2% and 32%, and that high summer losses were likely to follow high winter losses. Multivariate Poisson regression models revealed that hobbyist beekeepers with small apiaries and little experience in beekeeping had double the winter mortality rate when compared to professional beekeepers. Furthermore, honey bees kept by professional beekeepers never showed signs of disease, unlike apiaries from hobbyist beekeepers that had symptoms of bacterial infection and heavy Varroa infestation. Our data highlight beekeeper background and apicultural practices as major drivers of honey bee colony losses. The benefits of conducting trans-national monitoring schemes and improving beekeeper training are discussed

Study of the distribution of canine leishmaniosis and identification of the sandflies vectors in the area of Attica

Leishmaniosis is a parasitic disease of animals and man, caused by several Leishmania species and transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. The aim of this study was to investigate the state of Leishmaniosis in the greater area of Attica, regarding the prevalence of seropositivity in dogs, the species of the sandflies involved and the detection and identification of Leishmania DNA within naturally infected Sandflies. During the 4 years of the study (2003-2006), 542 insect traps were placed and a total number of 3254 sandflies was caught, 1448 (44.43%) of them being female. Additionally, 241 (16.64%) of the females were blood fed and in one (0.41%) of them L. infantum-DNA was detected with nested-PCR. The rest of the sandflies (3013) were identified morphologically to be Phlebotomus neglectus, P. tobbi, P. simici, P. papatasi, P. alexandri, P. similis and Sergentomyia minuta. The most prevalent genus was Phlebotomus spp. (72.56%) and the less prevalent was Sergentomyia (27.44%). Regarding the species, P. tobbi (41.52%) was the most dominant, followed by S. minuta (27.44%), P. neglectus (14.83%), P. simici (11.08%), P. papatasi (3.68%), P. similis (0.89%) and P. alexandri (0.56%). Rural areas were found to have higher density of sandfly populations. A total of 4,668 dogs were tested with (IFAT) and specific anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected in 1.134 (24.29 %), with titres ≥ 1/400. No significant difference was detected between seropositivity and sex (p>0.05). Dark coloured dogs were significantly more seropositive than light coloured ones (p0.05). Rural areas had significantly more seropositive dogs (46.8%) compared to semi-urban (27.1%) and urban (25.9%) areas (p0,05). Οι σκύλοι με σκούρο χρώμα τριχώματος εμφάνισαν συχνότερα οροθετικότητα ως προς την λεϊσμανίωση σε σχέση με τους υπόλοιπους (p0,05). Διαπιστώθηκε συχνότητα οροθετικών πολύ υψηλή σε ορισμένες φυλές, όπως Εpaniel Breton (50%), German Shorthair Pointer (46,5%), Doberman (45%). Ο μέσος όρος ηλικίας των οροθετικών σκύλων ήταν 5,54 (με τυπική απόκλιση 2,74) έτη, ενώ αντίστοιχα των οροαρνητικών ήταν 5,48 (με τυπική απόκλιση 3,25) (p>0,05). Παρατηρήθηκε ότι οι αγροτικές περιοχές είχαν υψηλότερη συχνότητα περιστατικών οροθετικότητας (46,8%) σε σχέση με τις περιαστικές (27,1%) και τις αστικές (25,9%) (p<0,05). Συμπερασματικά, διαπιστώθηκε ότι στην περιοχή της Αττικής υπήρχε μεγάλος αριθμός οροθετικών στη λεϊσμανίωση σκύλων και αφθονία φλεβοτόμων, ιδιαίτερα του υπογένους Larroussius, στο οποίο ανήκουν οι αποδεδειγμένοι μεταδότες της L. infantum στις μεσογειακές χώρες

Phlebotomine sandflies and factors associated with their abundance in the leishmaniasis endemic area of Attiki, Greece

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease of animals and humans caused by several Leishmania species and transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. The aim of the present study was to identify the species of field collected phlebotomine sandflies in the endemic area of the Attiki during 4 consecutive years, to isolate the Leishmania parasites from the infected sandflies, and identify possible factors associated with sandfly abundance in the area. A total of 542 trappings were made in 46 collection sites, in purely urban areas, periurban areas, and purely rural areas in Attiki. Out of the 3254 sandflies trapped, 1448 (44.43%) were female and 241 (16.64%) of the females were blood fed while Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in the 0.41% of them. Regarding sandfly species, the most prevalent was Phlebotomus tobbi (41.52%) followed by Sergentomyia minuta (27.44%), P. neglectus (14.83%), P. simici (11.08%), P. papatasi (3.68%), P. similis (0.89%), and P. alexandri (0.56%). Periurban areas were found to have the highest density of sandfly populations

Wild Rabbit Exposure to <i>Leishmania infantum</i>, <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> and <i>Babesia caballi</i> Evidenced by Serum and Aqueous Humor Antibody Detection

Wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) can be important sentinel species for the presence of zoonotic pathogens. Therefore, we collected blood samples from wild rabbits harvested by hunters during the hunting season 2019–2020 on the island of Lemnos, to determine exposure of wild rabbits to the zoonotic pathogens Leishmania infantum, Toxoplasma gondii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia caballi, as well as aqueous humor to assess its diagnostic performance in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios. Antibodies against these pathogens were detected by Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody (IFA) assay. Out of the 72 wild rabbits included in the study, 4.2%, 5.5%, 18% and 9.7% were seropositive to L. infantum, T. gondii, A. phagocytophilum and B. caballi, respectively. Although less frequently, antibodies were also detected in aqueous humor of wild rabbits. The antibody detection in aqueous humor presented 100% specificity but decreased sensitivity compared to serum suggesting that aqueous humor could be successfully used in epidemiological studies to confirm exposure at the population level but has little diagnostic value at the individual level. This is the first report on the seropositivity of wild rabbits to A. phagocytophilum and B. caballi and the detection of antibodies against A. phagocytopylum, L. infantum, T. gondii and B. caballi in the aqueous humor

Risk indicators affecting honeybee colony survival in Europe : one year of surveillance

The first pan-European harmonized active epidemiological surveillance program on honeybee colony mortality (EPILOBEE) was set up across 17 European Member States to estimate honeybee colony mortality over winter and during the beekeeping season. In nine Member States, overwinter losses were higher and statistically different from the empirical level of 10 % under which the level of overwinter mortality was considered as acceptable with usual beekeeping conditions. In four other countries, these losses were lower. Using multivariable Poisson regression models, it was showed that the size of the operation and apiary and the clinically detected varroosis, American foulbrood (AFB), and nosemosis before winter significantly affected 2012-2013 overwinter losses. Clinically detected diseases, the size of the operation and apiary, and the non-participation to a common veterinary treatment significantly affected 2013 summer losses. EPILOBEE was a prerequisite to implement future projects studying risk factors affecting colony health such as multiple and co-exposure to pesticides