Ankita Sarkar, Paramita Banerjee and Abhijit Mazumdar
The biting midges, Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are small haematophagous dipterans, demonstrated as vectors of multiple pathogens such as arboviruses, protozoa, fungi, and nematodes of veterinary and public health importance. Bacteria-specific information is far less despite its relevance in spreading arboviral diseases, these flies still need to be addressed. This article deals with the data on the association of bacteria and endosymbionts harboring in different biting midge species belonging to different subgenera. The bacteria influence insects’ physiology, such as digestion and oviposition, and their hosts’ survivability and vectorial efficiency. Bacterial strain- specific information is needed to correlate with these midges. However, few studies recorded pathogenic bacteria's association with vector species' life stages. Along with this, our analysis also corroborates with possible routes of pathogens’ transmission and organ-specific localization. Future studies will be required to generate information on developing some putative bio-control strategies by utilizing these bacterial species or strain-specific midge-associated bacteria. The zoonotic potential of bacterial pathogens associated with the vector species requires attention.
Ankita Sarkar, Paramita Banerjee and Abhijit Mazumdar, 2024. Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and Their Associated Bacterial Communities, Endosymbionts: A Review. Journal of Medical Arthropodology & Public Health 4(1): 19–34.