Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Tunisia

Culicoides is a genus of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. The female midges require blood meals for egg production. There are over 1000 species in the genus, which is divided into many subgenera. Several species are known to be vector of many diseases and parasites, which can affect animals. As vectors of viruses, Culicoides species are of the higher veterinary importance. More than 75 arboviruses, belonging to Bunyaviridae, Reoviridae and Rabdoviridae families, were isolated from different Culicoides species. In Mediterranean region, the principal vector of Bluetongue virus is represented by Culicoides imicola, and also other European Culicoides biting midges are implicated in virus transmission. Despite the virulence of these species and his colonisation in Tunisia, they are still considered as neglected area due to the rarity or the absence of programmes to control these biting midges. Thus, the available data on species composition, dominant species, breeding sites and host preferences are urgently needed to better understand these biting midges and to develop reliable tools to prevent the spread of other diseases that threaten human and animal life

Morphological Keys for the Identification of Tunisian <em>Culicoides</em> Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Culicoides biting midges are tiny blood-feeding insects of several diseases with veterinary and public health significance, including Bluetongue in ruminants, African horse sickness in equids and filarial diseases like Onchocercosis and Mansonellosis affecting various species such as humans. Their identification depends basically on the microscope examination of key morphological characters. Consequently, identification keys are important to any non experiment working with these biting midges. The Tunisian fauna of Culicoides biting midges consists of 35 species, whose morphological delineation may be troublesome for non-taxonomists. In response to this situation, and for the first time a key to the adult Culicoides species in Tunisia was prepared

Association between genital tract infection and premature rupture of membranes: A retrospective case control study in Tunisia, North Africa

Premature Rupture of Membranes is responsible for most cases of neonatal death. In most of these cases, the causes of PROM havenot been established in Tunisia, although several risk factors have been described. Therefore, we set out to determine the presenceof an association between genital infections and PROM among Tunisian women. A case-control study was conducted among 251 womens to detect the presence of association between genital tract infection and Premature Rupture of Membranes.Cases had apremature membranes rupture and the controls had intact membranes or suffering from premature membrane rupture during thelatent phase of labour. Data were collected from the medical register including socio-demographic characteristics, obstetrics, andmedical history. Association between genital infections and premature rupture of membranes was estimated using the Odds Ratioand 95% CI. One risk factor was identified, including age. There is no association between the presence of Group B streptococcus (OR= 1.08; 95% CI 0.50-2.34), presence of Trichomonasvaginalis (OR= 2.45; 95% CI 0.15-39.83) and presence of Candidiasis (OR= 1.11; 95% CI 0.58-2.14) and premature rupture of membranes. Co-infection was not associated with premature rupture of membranes (OR= 0.43; 95% CI 0.45-6.07). There is no association between genital infections and PROM among pregnant Tunisian women. Keywords: Genital infections, premature rupture of membranes, risk factors, Monastir, TunisiaLa rupture prématurée des membranes est responsable de la plupart des cas de décès néonatal. Enn effet, les causes de la RPM n'ont pas été établies en Tunisie, bien que plusieurs facteurs de risque aient été décrits. Par conséquent, nous avons cherché à déterminer la présence d'une association entre les infections génitales et la RPM chez les femmes tunisiennes. Une étude castémoins a été menée auprès de 251 femmes pour détecter la présence d'une association entre l'infection des voies génitales et la rupture prématurée des membranes. Les cas avaient une rupture prématurée des membranes et les témoins avaient des membranes intactes ou souffraient d'une rupture prématurée de la membrane pendant la phase latente du travail. Les données ont été recueillies à partir du registre médical, y compris les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, l'obstétrique et les antécédents médicaux. L'association entre les infections génitales et la rupture prématurée des membranes a été estimée à l'aide du OR et de l'IC à 95%. Un facteur de risque a été identifié, incluant l'âge. Il n'y a pas d'association entre la présence de streptocoques du groupe B (OR = 1,08; IC à 95% 0,50-2,34), la présence de Trichomonasvaginalis (OR = 2,45; IC à 95% 0,15-39,83) et la présence de candidose (OR = 1,11; 95% CI 0,58-2,14) et rupture prématurée des membranes. La co-infection n'était pas associée aussi à la rupture prématurée des membranes (OR = 0,43; IC à 95% 0,45 à 6,07). Il n'y a pas d'association entre les infections génitales et la RPM chez les femmes tunisiennes. Mots-clés: Infections génitales, rupture prématurée des membranes, facteurs de risque, Monastir, Tunisi

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 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

Total number of biting midges captured with light traps in Central Tunisia.

<p>Total number of biting midges captured with light traps in Central Tunisia.</p

First isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii strains from human congenital toxoplasmosis cases in Monastir, tunisia

International audienceToxoplasma gondii is a protozoon parasite that can cause severe clinical problems such as congenital toxoplasmosis. The distribution of T. gondii genotypes varies from one geographic area to another. So far, little is known about the parasite genotypes in Tunisia, North Africa. The present study aimed isolating and genotyping T. gondii from the amniotic fluid (AF) and placenta of pregnant women in Monastir, Tunisia. Amniotic fluid and/or placenta from 80 women who acquired toxoplasma infection during pregnancy were tested by PCR and/or mouse bioassay. Genotyping of T. gondii isolates from these samples was performed with 15 microsatellite markers. Four viable T. gondii strains were isolated from either the AF or placenta of four women. Specifically, strains TUN001-MON1 and TUN002-MON2 were isolated from both the AF and placenta, TUN003-AHA from only the placenta, and TUN004-NEL from only the AF. The four viable strains were not virulent for mice. Genotyping revealed that the four strains were type II strains. This is the first report on isolation and genotyping of T. gondii from AF human samples in Tunisia. Further studies focused on T. gondii genotyping on a larger number of human cases and on animals in Tunisia are needed to improve the knowledge and epidemiology of toxoplasmosis

Analytical sensitivity of cyt <i>b</i> gene PCR amplification (359 bp) (A). Analytical sensitivity of <i>PNOC</i> gene PCR amplification (333 bp) (B).

<p>Lanes 1–10, 9-fold dilutions of human genomic DNA; Lane 11, negative control. MW, Molecular Weight marker (100-bp DNA ladder)</p

Localization of farms in Central Tunisia.

<p><u>Farm A</u> is located in Khniss and reprented by a black circle with blue border. <u>Farm B, C, D</u> are located in Bir zira and showed by a black triangle with orange border. <u>Farm E and F are</u> identified by a black triangle with orange border also. <u>Farm G i</u>s located in Jemmel and signified by a black square with a blue border. <u>Farm H</u> is showed by a lozenge with a yellow border. <u>Farm N</u> is situated in Mahdia and showed by a white circle with black border.</p

Association between host species choice and morphological characters of main sensory structures of Culicoides in the Palaeartic region

Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) serve as vectors of several mammalian and avian diseases, including bluetongue, Schmallenberg, African horse sickness, avian malaria and Oropouche. Host preference investigations are necessary to assess the transmission routes of vector-borne diseases and to inform mitigation strategies. A recent study examining the main sensory structures (palps and antennae) of Culicoides species suggests that they be classified as ornithophilic or mammalophilic according to their feeding habits. We analyzed Culicoides host preferences according to the literature and carried out a multiple correspondence analysis linking these preferences with morphological data. Seven out of 12 variables were found to be reliable predictors of host preference in Culicoides species: Antenna Flagellomer-Sensilla Coeloconica-Number: (7–10) and (11–13); Antenna Flagellomer-Sensilla Coeloconica IV–X: presence; Palpus-size: wide and/or narrow opening and shallow pit; Palpus-Shape: strongly swollen; Antenna-Short sensilla trichodea-distal part segment IV to X-Number: 2 seta each. Our results demonstrate that the presence of sensilla coeloconica and the maxillary palpus can be used to separate ornithophilic and mammalophilic or ornithophilic/mammalophilic species