Culicoides species abundance and potential overwintering of African horse sickness virus in the Onderstepoort area, Gauteng, South Africa

Authors

  • Gert J Venter Agricultural Research CouncilOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute
  • Karien Labuschagne Agricultural Research CouncilOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute
  • Daphney Majatladi Agricultural Research CouncilOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute
  • Solomon N.B Boikanyo Agricultural Research CouncilOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute
  • Carina Lourens University of Pretoria
  • Karen Ebersohn University of Pretoria
  • Estelle H Venter University of Pretoria

Abstract

In South Africa, outbreaks of African horse sickness (AHS) occur in summer; no cases are reported in winter, from July to September. The AHS virus (AHSV) is transmitted almost exclusively by Culicoides midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), of which Culicoides imicola is considered to be the most important vector. The over-wintering mechanism of AHSV is unknown. In this study, more than 500 000 Culicoides midges belonging to at least 26 species were collected in 88 light traps at weekly intervals between July 2010 and September 2011 near horses in the Onderstepoort area of South Africa. The dominant species was C. imicola. Despite relatively low temperatures and frost, at least 17 species, including C. imicola, were collected throughout winter (June–August). Although the mean number of midges per night fell from > 50 000 (March) to < 100 (July and August), no midge-free periods were found. This study, using virus isolation on cell cultures and a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
(RT-PCR) assay, confirmed low infection prevalence in field midges and that the detection of virus correlated to high numbers. Although no virus was detected during this winter period, continuous adult activity indicated that transmission can potentially occur. The absence of AHSV in the midges during winter can be ascribed to the relatively low numbers collected coupled to low infection prevalence, low virus replication rates and low virus titres in the potentially infected midges. Cases of AHS in susceptible animals are likely to start as soon as Culicoides populations reach a critical level.

Author Biographies

  • Gert J Venter, Agricultural Research CouncilOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute

    Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases Programme, Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa and Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa

  • Karien Labuschagne, Agricultural Research CouncilOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute

    Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases Programme, Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa and Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

  • Daphney Majatladi, Agricultural Research CouncilOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute

    Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases Programme, Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa

  • Solomon N.B Boikanyo, Agricultural Research CouncilOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute

    Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases Programme, Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa

  • Carina Lourens, University of Pretoria

    Equine Research Centre, University of Pretoria, South Africa

  • Karen Ebersohn, University of Pretoria

    Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa

  • Estelle H Venter, University of Pretoria

    Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa

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Published

2021-12-09

Issue

Section

Original Research