Large-Scale Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I Gene Data Analysis for the Development of a Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Test Capable of Identifying Biting Midge Vector Species and Haplotypes (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the Subgenus Fox, 1955

Overview

Journal Genes (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Date 2024 Mar 28

PMID 38540382

Authors

Oliver Dahn

Doreen Werner

Bruno Mathieu

Helge Kampen

Affiliations

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Abstract

The emergence of culicoid-transmitted bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses in several European countries demonstrated the ability of indigenous biting midge species to transmit pathogens. Entomologic research programs identified members of the Obsoletus Group ( subgenus ) as keyplayers in disease epidemiology in Europe. However, morphological identification of potential vectors is challenging due to the recent discovery of new genetic variants (haplotypes) of sensu stricto (s.s.), forming distinct clades. In this study, 4422 GenBank entries of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of subgenus members of the genus were analyzed to develop a conventional multiplex PCR, capable of detecting all vector species and clades of the Western Palearctic in this subgenus. Numerous GenBank entries incorrectly assigned to a species were identified, analyzed and reassigned. The results suggest that the three clades represent independent species, whereas should rather be regarded as a genetic variant of s.s. Based on these findings, specific primers were designed and validated with DNA material from field-caught biting midges which achieved very high diagnostic sensitivity (100%) when compared to an established reference PCR (82.6%).

Citing Articles

Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3 and Schmallenberg Virus in Culicoides Biting Midges, Western Germany, 2023.

Voigt A, Kampen H, Heuser E, Zeiske S, Hoffmann B, Hoper D Emerg Infect Dis. 2024; 30(7):1438-1441.

PMID: 38916645 PMC: 11210651. DOI: 10.3201/eid3007.240275.

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