Characterization of Culicoides and mosquito fauna at the National Zoological Garden of Rabat, Morocco

IF 1.4 Q3 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101181

Maria Bourquia , Claire Garros , David Bru , Hajar Chabih , Fatine Bounaim , Safae Annouri , Saâd Azizi , Mahmoud Zineeddine , Abderrahmane Zahri , Thomas Balenghien

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Zoos are considering to be essential places for the conservation of wild animal species. It is essential to prevent their infection by pathogens especially for those belonging to threatened or extinct species. Zoo captive animals are susceptible to several Culicoides and mosquito borne-viruses. In order to further evaluate the risk of pathogen transmission in zoos, it is essential to identify the presence of potential vector species, as well as the animals bitten by those vectors.

For this purpose, Culicoides and mosquito species composition was investigated in ten sites from March to June 2021 for Culicoides (18 collection nights) and in four sites from April to June 2022 for mosquitoes (16 collection nights) at the National Zoological Garden of Rabat (ZGR), Morocco. Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were collected using Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute traps (UV-light/suction traps (OVI type)), every two weeks. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected using BG-Pro mosquito trap (BGP) combined with a CO2 source as an attractant, on two consecutive days every two weeks. The blood meal of engorged Culicoides was amplified by PCR, sequenced, and blasted for host species identification.

In total, 1584 individuals belonging to the Culicoides genus were collected (88.25 % females and 11.75 % males) belonging to at least 13 different species. Among the species collected, Culicoides newsteadi (33.28 %), C. imicola (23.74 %), C. circumscriptus (18.88 %) and C. obsoletus/C. scoticus (7.96 %) constituted the majority of the total catches. These species are proven or suspected vector species of bluetongue and African hose sickness viruses in the Mediterranean basin. For mosquitoes, 455 individuals belonging to four species of three genera were collected (97.58 % females and 2.42 % males): Culex pipiens s.l. (94.29 %) (vector species of West Nile and Rift Valley fever viruses), Culiseta longiareolata (4.81 %), Aedes detritus s.l. and Ae. caspius (representing together less than 1.00 %). The results of blood meal analyses revealed that Culicoides fed on humans (n = 7), camels (n = 2), and common eland (n = 2).

The composition of Culicoides and mosquito fauna is characteristic of the Rabat region. The composition is thus mostly determined by the environment rather than by the animal species presence. The results highlighted that Culicoides fed on humans and ruminants. It is therefore likely that the zoo's animals could be threatened by arboviruses transmitted by domestic animals in the region. Particular attention must be paid to the prevention of vector-borne diseases to ensure the proper conservation of species.

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摩洛哥拉巴特国家动物园库蠓和蚊子区系特征。

动物园被认为是保护野生动物物种的重要场所。至关重要的是防止它们被病原体感染，特别是那些属于受威胁或灭绝物种的物种。动物园圈养的动物容易感染几种库蠓和蚊媒病毒。为了进一步评估动物园中病原体传播的风险，有必要确定潜在媒介物种的存在，以及被这些媒介咬伤的动物。为此，于2021年3月至6月在摩洛哥拉巴特国家动物园（ZGR）的10个地点（18个采集夜）调查库蠓和蚊子种类组成，并于2022年4月至6月在4个地点（16个采集夜）调查蚊子。库蠓（双翅目：蠓科）采用Onderstepoort兽医研究所诱蚊器（紫外灯/吸盘诱蚊器（OVI型））每两周采集一次。采用BG-Pro型诱蚊器结合CO2源诱蚊，每2周连续2天采集蚊类（双翅目：库蚊科）。利用PCR扩增血粉，对血粉进行测序，并进行寄主鉴定。共捕获库蠓属13种1584只，雌蚊占88.25%，雄蚊占11.75%。收集到的种类中，新斯蒂库蠓（33.28%）、伊米科库蠓（23.74%）、环纹库蠓（18.88%）和废纹库蠓（18.88%）居多。Scoticus占捕获总量的大部分（7.96%）。这些物种已被证实或怀疑是地中海盆地蓝舌病和非洲软管病病毒的媒介物种。蚊虫共捕获3属4种455只，雌蚊占97.58%，雄蚊占2.42%，分别为：淡纹库蚊（西尼罗病毒和裂谷热病毒的媒介种）、长乳库蚊（4.81%）、腐斑伊蚊和伊蚊。Caspius（占比小于1.00%）。血粉分析结果显示，库蠓以人类（n = 7）、骆驼（n = 2）和普通土地（n = 2）为食，库蠓和蚊子区系组成具有拉巴特地区的特点。因此，成分主要是由环境决定的，而不是由存在的动物种类决定的。结果表明库蠓以人类和反刍动物为食。因此，该动物园的动物很可能受到该地区家畜传播的虫媒病毒的威胁。必须特别注意预防病媒传播的疾病，以确保适当保护物种。

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来源期刊

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Multiple-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

7.10%

发文量

126

审稿时长

97 days

期刊介绍： Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports focuses on aspects of veterinary parasitology that are of regional concern, which is especially important in this era of climate change and the rapid and often unconstrained travel of people and animals. Relative to regions, this journal will accept papers of the highest quality dealing with all aspects of disease prevention, pathology, treatment, epidemiology, and control of parasites within the field of veterinary medicine. Also, case reports will be considered as they add to information related to local disease and its control; such papers must be concise and represent appropriate medical intervention. Papers on veterinary parasitology from wildlife species are acceptable, but only if they relate to the practice of veterinary medicine. Studies on vector-borne bacterial and viral agents are suitable, but only if the paper deals with vector transmission of these organisms to domesticated animals. Studies dealing with parasite control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro, are more suited for one of the many journals that now specialize in papers of this type. However, due to the regional nature of much of this research, submissions may be considered based upon a case being made by the author(s) to the Editor. Circumstances relating to animal experimentation must meet the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals as issued by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (obtainable from: Executive Secretary C.I.O.M.S., c/o W.H.O., Via Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland).