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Molecular phylogeny of culicoides midges in relation to vector competence for bluetongue in the UK

Reference	BBS/E/I/00001174
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Philip Mellor
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	2,000
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/05/2004
End date	30/04/2007
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Novel insect vectors are involved in the transmission of BTV in central and southern Europe, and the midges Culicoides obsoletus and C. pulicaris are prime candidates. Both taxa occur widely in the UK and continental Europe, so the UK is potentially at risk from BT outbreaks. Vector competence for BTV in these taxa in the UK are therefore being characterised as a matter of urgency (see DERA grant SE2610). C. obsoletus and C. pulicaris are species complexes whose members are readily distinguishable only according to adult male morphology. In contrast, vector competence for BTV can only be assayed in adult females. Consequently, competent vectors in these complexes cannot presently be identified to species. Almost 20 species of both complexes occur in Europe and 12 of these in the UK. A cost-effective assessment of the risk of spread of BTV to the UK requires knowing whether any of the species known to occur in the UK are competent vectors in Europe. This is presently not possible. It is proposed to overcome this problem by applying a recently advocated approach to biodiversity analysis, in which the primary category is the phytospecies defined by a DNA-based phylogeny. DNA sequences will be obtained of a mitochondrial and a nuclear gene from several isolates of C. obsoletus and C. pulicaris complexes in the UK and continental Europe. The sequences will be used to build a phylogenetic framework for these complexes, and to develop simple, rapid PCR assays for identifying phytospecies. The results will provide cost-effective means for detecting the presence in the UK of phytospecies within the C. obsoletus and C. pulicaris complexes that are associated with BT outbreaks in continental Europe, thus allowing risk assessment of the vector-borne spread of BTV to the UK.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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