Dataset Information

The Palearctic blackfly Simulium equinum (Diptera: Simuliidae) as a biting pest of captive nyala antelopes (Tragelaphus angasii).

ABSTRACT: Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are cosmopolitan nuisance pests of great economic importance as well as vectors of many pathogens. After reports of massive blackfly biting of captive nyala antelopes in the Vienna Zoo, Austria, this study aimed to identify the species causing multiple skin lesions on the antelope hosts. The Palearctic species Simulium equinum, belonging to the medically and veterinary important Wilhelmia subgenus, was identified as the most likely causative agent. Barcoding and maximum likelihood analysis supported morphological species identification and highlighted the complex phylogeny of the subgenus Wilhelmia. Our study gives first evidence of the multi-host feeding blackfly S. equinum in the Vienna Zoo, thereby raising the question whether other hosts could also be bitten on a regular basis. The preliminary results urge for further analysis of blackfly breeding sites as well as the clarification of the host spectrum to assess the medical and veterinary importance of blackflies in the Zoo.

SUBMITTER: Ebmer D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10084230 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The Palearctic blackfly Simulium equinum (Diptera: Simuliidae) as a biting pest of captive nyala antelopes (Tragelaphus angasii).

Ebmer David D Balfanz Folko F Voracek Thomas T Hering-Hagenbeck Stephan S Pichler-Scheder Christian C Walochnik Julia J Kniha Edwin E

Zoo biology 20220706 1

Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are cosmopolitan nuisance pests of great economic importance as well as vectors of many pathogens. After reports of massive blackfly biting of captive nyala antelopes in the Vienna Zoo, Austria, this study aimed to identify the species causing multiple skin lesions on the antelope hosts. The Palearctic species Simulium equinum, belonging to the medically and veterinary important Wilhelmia subgenus, was identified as the most likely causative agent. Barcoding and ...[more]

PMID: 35795895

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Project description:BackgroundFast and reliable species identification of black flies is essential for research proposes and effective vector control. Besides traditional identification based on morphology, which is usually supplemented with molecular methods, geometric morphometrics (GM) has emerged as a promising tool for identification. Despite its potential, no specific GM techniques have been established for the identification of black fly species.MethodsAdult female black flies collected using human bait, as well as those reared from pupae, were used in this study. Here, landmark-based GM analysis of wings was assessed for the first time to identify human-biting black fly species in Thailand, comparing this approach with the standard morphological identification method and DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. To explore genetic relationships between species, maximum likelihood (ML) and neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic trees were built. Additionally, three different methods of species delimitation, i.e., assemble species by automatic partitioning (ASAP), generalized mixed yule coalescent (GMYC), and single Poisson tree processes (PTP), were utilized to identify the morphologically defined species. The effectiveness of a COI barcode in identifying black fly species was further examined through the best match (BM) and best close match (BCM) methods.ResultsSeven black fly species, namely Simulium tenebrosum Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung, 2018 (complex), S. doipuiense Takaoka & Choochote, 2005 (complex), S. nigrogilvum Summers, 1911, S. nodosum Puri, 1933, S. asakoae Takaoka & Davies, 1995, S. chamlongi Takaoka & Suzuki, 1984, and S. umphangense Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung, 2017 were morphologically identified. Compared with the standard method, the GM analysis based on wing shape showed high success in separating species, achieving an overall accuracy rate of 88.54%. On the other hand, DNA barcoding surpassed wing GM for species identification with a correct identification rate of 98.57%. Species delimitation analyses confirmed the validity of most nominal species, with an exception for S. tenebrosum complex and S. doipuiense complex, being delimited as a single species. Moreover, the analyses unveiled hidden diversity within S. asakoae, indicating the possible existence of up to four putative species.ConclusionsThis study highlights the potential of wing GM as a promising and reliable complementary tool for species identification of human-biting black flies in Thailand.

Dataset Information

The Palearctic blackfly Simulium equinum (Diptera: Simuliidae) as a biting pest of captive nyala antelopes (Tragelaphus angasii).

Publications

The Palearctic blackfly Simulium equinum (Diptera: Simuliidae) as a biting pest of captive nyala antelopes (Tragelaphus angasii).

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