A Study on the Identification of Five Arboviruses from Hematophagous Mosquitoes and Midges Captured in Some Parts of Northern Turkey

• Main Authors: Emre Ozan, Harun Albayrak, Semra Gumusova, Cenk S. Bolukbas, Mithat Kurt, Gokmen Z. Pekmezci, Yunus E. Beyhan, Hamza Kadi, Selma Kaya, Ismail Aydin, Zafer Yazici
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2018-10-01
• Series: Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases
• Subjects: Mosquito; Midge; Identification; Real-time RT-PCR; Arbovirus
• Online Access: https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1144

Background: Whether zoonotic or not, arboviral infections are continuing to be a major threat to human health as well as the livestock industry all around the world. This project presented the results of the identification study on five arboviruses, including West Nile virus (WNV), Bovine ephemeral fever virus, Akabane virus, Bluetongue virus, and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, in mosquitos and midges from eight provinces of the Black Sea Region. Methods: During 2011 and 2012, 3193 mosquitoes were captured around natural streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds using dry-baited miniature light-traps. Identification studies were concluded by employing molecular methods. Results: According to the morphological identification, blood-sucking mosquitoes and biting-midges belonged to Aedes (44.69%), Anopheles (28.34%), Culex (22.14%) and Culicoides (4.83%) species. Overall, 146 pools were made up of captured mosquitos and midges. None of the five viruses were directly identified by mosquitoes. Conclusion: Mosquitoes and midges have got a crucial role in the transmission of arboviruses. The risk of occurrence for the investigated arboviruses will continue depending upon many factors including the presence of these viruses in Turkey and its neighboring countries, uncontrolled livestock movements, global warming and climate changes.