Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Bethany L. McGregor, Aaron Lewis
Summary: This study investigated host associations of five Culicoides biting midge species using molecular methods. It was found that these midges heavily fed on either birds or mammals, with some crossover. The size of the bloodmeal had a greater impact on detecting the host than the digestion stage. These findings provide insights into the vector status of these midge species.
Article
Microbiology
Rita Ziegyte, Rasa Bernotiene, Vaidas Palinauskas
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine new Culicoides species involved in the transmission of Haemoproteus parasites in the wild. Through collection and testing of biting midges, it was discovered that multiple Culicoides species carry avian Haemoproteus parasites. In addition, two new Culicoides species were added to the vector list.
Article
Parasitology
Rita Ziegyte, Elena Platonova, Egidijus Kinderis, Andrey Mukhin, Vaidas Palinauskas, Rasa Bernotiene
Summary: This study collected various Culicoides species using UV traps and sticky traps in bird nest boxes, and identified Culicoides kibunensis as a new natural vector of Haemoproteus minutus. Haemoproteid DNA was detected in females from five Culicoides species, providing insights into the epizootiology of avian Haemoproteus infections.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Carlos Mora-Rubio, Martina Ferraguti, Sergio Magallanes, Daniel Bravo-Barriga, Irene Hernandez-Caballero, Alfonso Marzal, Florentino de Lope
Summary: The incidence and distribution of vector-borne diseases have significantly increased in recent decades. Understanding the interaction and seasonal variations between vectors, parasites, and hosts can help assess disease risk and predict the impact of climate change on disease transmission.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Tatiana Sulesco, Ozge Erisoz Kasap, Petr Halada, Gizem Oguz, Dimian Rusnac, Marketa Gresova, Bulent Alten, Petr Volf, Vit Dvorak
Summary: The study in Moldova found stable populations of three sand fly species, which represent a biting nuisance to humans as well as a potential threat for pathogen transmission, highlighting the need for further research.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Noelle Khalil, Eliza A. H. Little, Karen I. Akaratovic, Jay P. Kiser, Charles F. Abadam, Karen J. Yuan, Michael J. Misencik, Philip M. Armstrong, Goudarz Molaei
Summary: Understanding the interaction between vectors and hosts is important for assessing the role of mosquito species in virus transmission. Through a study on Culex pipiens blood-feeding patterns, it was found that this mosquito species mainly feeds on birds, particularly American robins. The findings provide additional evidence that Cx. pipiens is a key enzootic and potential epidemic vector of West Nile virus in southeastern Virginia.
VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas, Carolina Hernandez-Lara, Melanie Duc, Kristina Valaviciute-Pociene, Rasa Bernotiene
Summary: This study investigated wild biting midges naturally infected with Haemoproteus parasites in Europe and found that C. kibunensis and C. segnis are important vectors for Haemoproteus.
Article
Ecology
Moh A. Alkhamis, Nicholas M. Fountain-Jones, Cecilia Aguilar-Vega, Jose M. Sanchez-Vizcaino
Summary: The study utilized a machine learning model and 23 environmental features to analyze 24,245 outbreaks reported in 25 European countries between 2000 and 2019. Results showed high predictive accuracy for all BTV serotypes, with strong nonlinear relationships between BTV outbreak risk and environmental and host features. Different serotypes had unique outbreak risk profiles and specific interactive effects between environmental and host characteristics.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Pairot Pramual, Panya Jomkumsing, Komgrit Wongpakam, Kotchaphon Vaisusuk, Wasupon Chatan, Bhuvadol Gomontean
Summary: This study used mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences as genetic markers to evaluate the level of genetic diversity and the genetic structure of Culicoides mahasarakhamense from Thailand. Results showed that the level of genetic diversity was relatively high, but most populations were not genetically different. However, one population from northern Thailand was found to be genetically highly different from others, possibly due to historical population isolation and geographic distance separation.
Article
Parasitology
Zuzana Kasicova, Andrea Schreiberova, Andrea Kimakova, Alica Kocisova
Summary: The study found that Culicoides species in Slovakia can feed on mammals, birds, rodents, and humans, marking the first investigation into the trophic preferences of Culicoides species.
Article
Entomology
Dinesh Erram, Theodore Vincent Black, Nathan Burkett-Cadena, Timothy Lysyk
Summary: The study found that the host bloodmeal source does not significantly affect the fecundity and subsequent larval developmental traits of Culicoides furens, indicating that this species is well adapted as a generalist feeder.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kristin E. Sloyer, Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena
Summary: Researchers developed a novel trapping system to effectively collect vector species from non-tame animals, with a 94% activation accuracy when host animals approached. The diversity and richness of Culicoides species differed between sensor traps and control traps, with more vector species captured in sensor traps. This new system provides a promising approach to studying vector-host systems.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Josue Martinez-de la Puente, Alazne Diez-Fernandez, Ramon C. Soriguer, Luisa Rambozzi, Andrea Peano, Pier Giuseppe Meneguz, Jordi Figuerola
Summary: The host manipulation hypothesis suggests that parasites modify hosts' phenotype to increase transmission success. Avian malaria parasites may attract mosquitoes by altering the odor profile of infected birds, supporting this hypothesis.
ARDEOLA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Liang-Jing Li, Nian-Zhi Ning, Yuan-Chun Zheng, Yan-Li Chu, Xiao-Ming Cui, Ming-Zhu Zhang, Wen-Bin Guo, Ran Wei, Hong-Bo Liu, Yi Sun, Jin-Ling Ye, Bao-Gui Jiang, Ting-Ting Yuan, Jie Li, Cai Bian, Lesley Bell-Sakyi, Hui Wang, Jia-Fu Jiang, Ju-Liang Song, Wu-Chun Cao, Tommy Tsan-Yuk Lam, Xue-Bing Ni, Na Jia
Summary: Ticks have co-evolved with pathogens, resulting in mutual adaptation. This study analyzed the virome and gene expression of ticks at different stages of blood-feeding, revealing the significance of tick virome surveillance and the role of reactive oxygen species in modulating the microbiome during blood-feeding. The study also identified potential mammalian hosts for ticks, emphasizing their public health importance.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Tao Jin, Claudia Husseneder, Lane Foil
Summary: This study utilized DNA barcoding to identify Culicoides larvae collected from tree holes, revealing the species distribution of Culicoides vectors and their larval habitats. By matching adult sequences with larval sequences, 16 larvae were successfully assigned to specific species.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Giuseppe Bianco, Mihaela Ilieva, Susanne Akesson
Article
Ornithology
Steffen Hahn, Jose A. Alves, Kiril Bedev, Joana S. Costa, Tamara Emmenegger, Martin Schulze, Peter Tamm, Pavel Zehtindjiev, Kiran L. Dhanjal-Adams
Article
Parasitology
Julio Manuel Neto, Samantha Mellinger, Lucyna Halupka, Alfonso Marzal, Pavel Zehtindjiev, Helena Westerdahl
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Simeon B. Borissov, Aneliya Bobeva, Battal ciplak, Dragan Chobanov
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Tamara Emmenegger, Staffan Bensch, Steffen Hahn, Dmitry Kishkinev, Petr Prochazka, Pavel Zehtindjiev, Silke Bauer
Summary: The study found that blood parasite infections can result in shorter migration distances and delayed onset of autumn migration, particularly for birds with Plasmodium and mixed-genus infections. Infected birds had prolonged migratory flight bout durations, but shorter resting times, indicating that initial delays seemed to be compensated for.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Giuseppe Bianco, Robin Clemens Kohler, Mihaela Ilieva, Susanne Akesson
Summary: Spontaneous magnetic alignment is the simplest directional response to the geomagnetic field in animals. Recent research shows that migratory songbirds align their body with the geomagnetic field before sunset, but shift to a northeast-southwest alignment afterwards. This finding suggests that body alignment may be associated with the integration of directional celestial and magnetic cues in migratory bird compass.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Melanie Marx, Yvonne R. Schumm, Kevin J. Kardynal, Keith A. Hobson, Gregorio Rocha, Pavel Zehtindjiev, Dimitris Bakaloudis, Benjamin Metzger, Jacopo G. Cecere, Fernando Spina, Marco Cianchetti-Benedetti, Sylke Frahnert, Christian C. Voigt, Herve Lormee, Cyril Eraud, Petra Quillfeldt
Summary: Conservation of migratory birds requires understanding their breeding and nonbreeding ranges. This study investigated the wintering regions of European turtle doves using stable isotopes and found that the most likely wintering areas were in the western and central Sub-Sahara. There were also differences in the isotopic values between turtle doves from different migratory routes, indicating different origins for central/eastern and western migrants. These results emphasize the importance of the western and central Sub-Sahara for the conservation of turtle doves from European breeding populations.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Boyan Vagalinski, Simeon Borissov, Aneliya Bobeva, Giacomo Canciani, Dragan Z. Antic
Summary: This paper reviews the blind and mostly endogean juilid genus Stygiiulus Verhoeff, 1929 stat. nov., which includes ten species. The distinctiveness of the genus from Typhloiulus is proven by both morphological and molecular data. The paper also discusses the phylogeny of the genus, its distribution patterns, and the modified mouthparts in some of its species.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mihaela Ilieva, Giuseppe Bianco, Susanne Akesson
Summary: Birds have developed adaptations in their migratory programs to ensure successful migration. Even closely related species may have different migration strategies. The study compared the activity patterns and fuelling of lab-held warblers in southern Sweden during autumn migration, and found differences in their migratory strategies and species-specific adaptations to magnetic field information.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Susanne Akesson, Himma Bakam, Elena Martinez Hernandez, Mihaela Ilieva, Giuseppe Bianco
Summary: This study reviews the massive bird migration phenomenon, discussing the differences in migration performance and compass orientation between young and adult birds, as well as their response to external information and potential changes in migratory behavior over a lifetime. It highlights the prevailing concepts of navigation and the sources of variability within and between individuals and age groups, focusing on how changes in the endogenous migration program may lead to more efficient migration with age.
ETHOLOGY ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Vojtech Brlik, Gintaras Malmiga, Dimitar Dimitrov, Tamara Emmenegger, Andrey Gavrilov, Dennis Hasselquist, Strahil Peev, Mikkel Willemoes, Elizabeth Yohannes, Steffen Hahn, Bengt Hansson, Petr Prochazka
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Melanie Marx, Gregorio Rocha, Pavel Zehtindjiev, Strahil Peev, Dimitris Bakaloudis, Benjamin Metzger, Jacopo G. Cecere, Fernando Spina, Marco Cianchetti-Benedetti, Sylke Frahnert, Anita Gamauf, Christian C. Voigt, Petra Quillfeldt
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2020)
Article
Zoology
K. Stepniewska, A. Ozarowska, P. Busse, R. Bobrek, P. Zehtindjiev, M. Ilieva, W. Meissner
EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Boyan Michev, Pavel Zehtindjiev, Martin Marinov, Tzvetan Zlatanov
ACTA ZOOLOGICA BULGARICA
(2020)