Long-distance aerial dispersal modelling of Culicoides biting midges: case studies of incursions into Australia

BACKGROUND: Previous studies investigating long-distance, wind-borne dispersal of Culicoides have utilised outbreaks of clinical disease (passive surveillance) to assess the relationship between incursion and dispersal event. In this study, species of exotic Culicoides and isolates of novel bluetong...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC veterinary research 2014-06, Vol.10 (1), p.135-135
Main Authors: Eagles, Debbie, Melville, Lorna, Weir, Richard, Davis, Steven, Bellis, Glenn, Zalucki, Myron P, Walker, Peter J, Durr, Peter A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Distribution
Animals
Arbovirus
Australia - epidemiology
bluetongue
Bluetongue - epidemiology
Bluetongue - transmission
Bluetongue virus
case studies
Cattle
Cattle Diseases - epidemiology
Ceratopogonidae - physiology
Culicoides
Female
Humans
Introduced Species
model validation
Models, Biological
monitoring
Species Specificity
viruses
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Summary:BACKGROUND: Previous studies investigating long-distance, wind-borne dispersal of Culicoides have utilised outbreaks of clinical disease (passive surveillance) to assess the relationship between incursion and dispersal event. In this study, species of exotic Culicoides and isolates of novel bluetongue viruses, collected as part of an active arbovirus surveillance program, were used for the first time to assess dispersal into an endemic region. RESULTS: A plausible dispersal event was determined for five of the six cases examined. These include exotic Culicoides specimens for which a possible dispersal event was identified within the range of two days – three weeks prior to their collection and novel bluetongue viruses for which a dispersal event was identified between one week and two months prior to their detection in cattle. The source location varied, but ranged from Lombok, in eastern Indonesia, to Timor-Leste and southern Papua New Guinea. CONCLUSIONS: Where bluetongue virus is endemic, the concurrent use of an atmospheric dispersal model alongside existing arbovirus and Culicoides surveillance may help guide the strategic use of limited surveillance resources as well as contribute to continued model validation and refinement. Further, the value of active surveillance systems in evaluating models for long-distance dispersal is highlighted, particularly in endemic regions where knowledge of background virus and vector status is beneficial.
ISSN:1746-6148
1746-6148
DOI:10.1186/1746-6148-10-135