Original Research

Possible over-wintering of bluetongue virus in Culicoides populations in the Onderstepoort area, Gauteng, South Africa

Jumari Steyn, Gert J. Venter, Karien Labuschagne, Daphney Majatladi, Solomon N.B. Boikanyo, Carina Lourens, Karen Ebersohn, Estelle H. Venter
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 87, No 1 | a1371 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v87i1.1371 | © 2016 Jumari Steyn, Gert J. Venter, Karien Labuschagne, Daphney Majatladi, Solomon N.B. Boikanyo, Carina Lourens, Karen Ebersohn, Estelle H. Venter | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 15 December 2015 | Published: 31 October 2016

About the author(s)

Jumari Steyn, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Gert J. Venter, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria; Parasites, Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa
Karien Labuschagne, Parasites, Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute; Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Daphney Majatladi, Parasites, Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa
Solomon N.B. Boikanyo, Parasites, Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa
Carina Lourens, Equine Research Centre, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Karen Ebersohn, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Estelle H. Venter, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Several studies have demonstrated the ability of certain viruses to overwinter in arthropod vectors. The over-wintering mechanism of bluetongue virus (BTV) is unknown. One hypothesis is over-wintering within adult Culicoides midges (Diptera; Ceratopogonidae) that survive mild winters where temperatures seldom drop below 10 °C. The reduced activity of midges and the absence of outbreaks during winter may create the impression that the virus has disappeared from an area. Light traps were used in close association with horses to collect Culicoides midges from July 2010 to September 2011 in the Onderstepoort area, in Gauteng Province, South Africa. More than 500 000 Culicoides midges were collected from 88 collections and sorted to species level, revealing 26 different Culicoides species. Culicoides midges were present throughout the 15 month study. Nine Culicoides species potentially capable of transmitting BTV were present during the winter months. Midges were screened for the presence of BTV ribonucleic acid (RNA) with the aid of a real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. In total 91.2% of midge pools tested positive for BTV RNA. PCR results were compared with previous virus isolation results (VI) that demonstrated the presence of viruses in summer and autumn months. The results indicate that BTV-infected Culicoides vectors are present throughout the year in the study area. Viral RNA-positive midges were also found throughout the year with VI positive midge pools only in summer and early autumn. Midges that survive mild winter temperatures could therefore harbour BTV but with a decreased vector capacity. When the population size, biting rate and viral replication decrease, it could stop BTV transmission. Over-wintering of BTV in the Onderstepoort region could therefore result in re-emergence because of increased vector activity rather than reintroduction from outside the region.


Keywords

Bluetongue virus; Culicoides midges; overwintering

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Crossref Citations

1. An Investigation of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as Potential Vectors of Medically and Veterinary Important Arboviruses in South Africa
Jumari Snyman, Gert J. Venter, Marietjie Venter
Viruses  vol: 13  issue: 10  first page: 1978  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3390/v13101978