MSGID: 1:317/3 64a3a066   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Sheep and cattle-killing disease carriers never take a break    
    Some pests don't disappear in winter, as previously supposed    
      
     Date:   
         July 3, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of California - Riverside   
     Summary:   
         Bluetongue virus, an incurable cattle and sheep-killing disease,   
         is spread by tiny flies once thought to disappear in winter. New   
         research demonstrates that though they are harder to find when   
         it's cold, they remain active.   
      
      
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   Bluetongue virus, an incurable cattle and sheep-killing disease, is   
   spread by tiny flies once thought to disappear in winter. New research   
   demonstrates that though they are harder to find when it's cold, they   
   remain active.   
      
   Bluetongue virus is common in cattle throughout most of the United   
   States, particularly in the southwestern U.S. with nearly 20% of some   
   California cattle herds infected. Due to concerns about spread of this   
   virus, exports of U.S.   
      
   cattle and cattle products to parts of Europe and Asia have been   
   restricted to prevent contamination.   
      
   However, not all infected animals die. The main symptoms are elevated   
   temperatures, lethargy, a sore area above the hooves, and some bleeding   
   around the mouth. All ruminants are susceptible, including goats and   
   deer as well as cattle and sheep.   
      
   "The tongue, especially in sheep, can turn blue from enlargement with   
   blood," said Alec Gerry, UC Riverside entomology professor and study   
   co-author.   
      
   Biting midges, flies so small they're also called no-see-ums, are   
   responsible for transmitting the virus. However, the typical adult midge   
   lives for fewer than 30 days.   
      
   "There's been a question about how bluetongue virus persists through   
   the winter months to make it to the next season," Gerry said. "Our   
   study looked at adult activity in winter, doing collections on only the   
   warmest days each week - - something entomologists do not typically do."   
   Previous studies found few flies active during winter in California. One   
   theory about the midges posited that they die in colder months, and that   
   the virus- carrying midges are somehow reintroduced from a tropical place   
   with warm winters. Another theory suggested that no-see-um activity is   
   not dormant in winter, but surveillance methods aren't robust enough to   
   catch their reduced activity and ongoing transmission of bluetongue virus.   
      
   Convinced the latter theory was correct, the research team commenced   
   trapping on the warmest days, every two weeks, for three years. "And we   
   caught them every time," said Xinmi Zhang, a Scripps College entomologist   
   who led the study while a Ph.D. student in Gerry's lab at UCR.   
      
   By changing up typical insect collection practices, the researchers   
   discovered midges continue to be active on the warmest days. This finding   
   is described in a Journal of Medical Entomology paper, and in a new blog   
   post for the Entomological Society of America.   
      
   "Not only are the midges more active on those warm days, but the fact   
   that we found younger adults suggests they are developing through the   
   winter months," Gerry said. "There is no break in the normal life cycle."   
   Though this study did not find active virus in winter, another study   
   conducted in California's Central Valley did find virus during this   
   time period. Taken together, the two studies show virus transmission is   
   likely ongoing.   
      
   Given that there is no specific treatment for Bluetongue and no natural   
   enemy of the midges that has been identified to help reduce their numbers,   
   Gerry said the findings should support improved methods for managing   
   virus transmission such as application of insect repellants to ruminant   
   animals during winter when biting midge activity is at its lowest point   
   during the year.   
      
   California cattle are acclimated to the strain of the virus circulating   
   locally, so they are don't suffer bad reactions. However, that could   
   easily change. "If a new strain is imported somewhere that didn't have   
   it before, the animals' reactions could be severe. This could result in   
   big economic impacts," Zhang said. During an outbreak of Bluetongue in   
   northern Europe in 2006, thousands of cows died.   
      
   "It's so important to have a better understanding of these insects'   
   behavior.   
      
   And now, we do."   
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   Story Source: Materials provided by   
   University_of_California_-_Riverside. Original written by Jules   
   Bernstein. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Xinmi Zhang, Alec C Gerry. Host-seeking activity of adult Culicoides   
         sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) during winter in southern   
         California, USA, and assessment of bluetongue virus overwintering.   
      
         Journal of Medical Entomology, 2023; DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad049   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230703133012.htm   
      
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