Analysis of Five Arboviruses and Culicoides Distribution on Cattle Farms in Jeollabuk-do, Korea

Arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses) are transmitted by arthropods such as Culicoides biting midges and cause abortion, stillbirth, and congenital malformation in ruminants, apparently leading to economic losses to farmers. To monitor the distribution of Culicoides and to determine their relationship with different environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, wind speed, and altitude of the farms) on 5 cattle farms, Culicoides were collected during summer season (May-September) in 2016 and 2017, and analyzed for identification of species and detection of arboviruses. About 35% of the Culicoides were collected in July and the collection rate increased with increase in temperature and humidity. The higher altitude where the farms were located, the more Culicoides were collected on inside than outside. In antigen test of Culicoides against 5 arboviruses, only Chuzan virus (CHUV) (2.63%) was detected in 2016. The Akabane virus (AKAV), CHUV, Ibaraki virus and Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) had a positive rate of less than 1.8% in 2017. In antigen test of bovine whole blood, AKAV (12.96%) and BEFV (0.96%) were positive in only one of the farms. As a result of serum neutralization test, antibodies against AKAV were generally measured in all the farms. These results suggest that vaccination before the season in which the Culicoides are active is probably best to prevent arbovirus infections.

Monitoring of Five Bovine Arboviral Diseases Transmitted by Arthropod Vectors in Korea

A survey was performed in Korea to monitor the prevalence of five bovine arboviruses [Akabane virus, Aino virus, Chuzan virus, bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) virus, and Ibaraki virus] in arthropod vectors, such as Culicoides species. To determine the possible applications of survey data in annual monitoring and warning systems in Korea, we examined the prevalence of bovine arboviruses in arthropod vectors using RT-PCR. To compare the sensitivity and specificity of virus detection, nested PCR was also performed in parallel for all five viruses. Using the RT-PCR, the detection limits were at least up to 10(1.5), 10(2.8), 10(2.0), 10(1.8), and 10(4.0) TCID50/ml for Akabane virus, Aino virus, Chuzan virus, BEF virus, and Ibaraki virus, respectively. When nested PCR was performed using 1 micronl of PCR product, the detection limits were increased, to 10(0.05), 10(1.8), 10(1.0), 10(0.008), and 10(2.0) TCID50/ml for Akabane virus, Aino virus, Chuzan virus, BEF virus, and Ibaraki virus, respectively. Thus, nested PCR increased the sensitivity of the virus detection limit by 1~2 log. We pooled 30~40 mosquitoes in one sample. We collected 113 samples in 2006, 135 samples in 2007, and 100 samples in 2008. Among these samples, Chuzan virus and BEF virus genes were detected at a range between 0.82% and 1.19%, and Akabane virus, Aino virus, and Ibaraki virus genes were detected at less than 0.20%. These data may provide some insight into future epidemiological studies of bovine arboviral diseases in Korea.

subfamily Culicinae [Diptera:culicidae] in kerman province southern Iran

There are some arboviral and parasitic diseases which are transmitted by culicine mosquitoes in Iran. Three genera and eleven species of the subfamily Culicinae [Diptera: Culicidae] were collected by dipping method and identified in Kahnooj district, Kerman province, south-eastern Iran, during October and November, 2003 including; Culex [Culex] bitaeniorhynchus, Cx. [Maillotia] deserticola, Cx. [Cux.] laticinctus, Cx. [Cux.] perexiguus, Cx. [Cux.] pipiens, Cx.[Cux.] quin- quefasciatus, Cx.[Cux.] sinaiticus, Cx.[Cux.] theileri, Cx.[Cux.] tritaeniorhynchus, Culiseta [Allotheobaldia] longiareolata, and Uranotaenia [Pseudoficalbia] unguiculata. In this study, Ur.unguiculata was identified in Kerman province for the first time. Fauna and ecology of Culicinae need more investigations in this province