Diversity and molecular detection of trypanosomatid DNA in Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges from the western Amazon, Brazil.

Authors

Isis Marinho Oliveira Falcão, Emanuelle de Sousa Farias, Tivian Raphaella Melo Munis, Kamila Pereira França, Janaina Danielle Alves, Antonio Marques Pereira Junior, Luís Paulo Costa de Carvalho, Jansen Fernandes de Medeiros

Published in

Acta tropica. Pages 108330. Sep 15, 2026. Epub Sep 15, 2026.

Abstract

Insects of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are widely distributed in the Amazon region and are recognized for their medical and veterinary relevance due to their association with the transmission of pathogens, including protozoa and viruses. This study aimed to characterize the Culicoides fauna in peridomestic environments and forest fragments in districts of Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil and to detect trypanosomatid DNA in field-collected specimens. Collections were carried out in four districts: Nova Califórnia (NCL), Nova Mutum Paraná (NM), Vista Alegre do Abunã (VAA) and União Bandeirantes (UB), during 2019, 2022 and 2024. A total of 3,600 biting midges were identified, representing 41 valid species and eight morphospecies distributed among five subgenera and eight informal species groups. The most abundant species were C. insignis (1,981 individuals/55.02%), C. ocumarensis (311/8.63%), C. foxi (299/8.30%), C. pseudodiabolicus (297/8.25%). Five species were recorded for the first time in the state of Rondônia (C. pifanoi, C. pseudoheliconiae, C. verecundus, C. filiductus and C. macrostigma), increasing the number of recognized species in the state from 48 to 53. Additionally, C. filiductus represents a new record for Brazil and the Brazilian Amazon, increasing the number of recorded species in the Brazilian Amazon from 135 to 136. For the detection of trypanosomatid DNA, DNA extraction and nested PCR targeting the V7V8 region were performed on 1,046 non-engorged females. Four samples were positive, corresponding to C. pseudodiabolicus and C. foxi. Sequencing identified three trypanosomatid taxa: Endotrypanum schaudinni, Zelonia costaricensis and Leishmania braziliensis. This study provides the first record of E. schaudinni DNA detection in C. pseudodiabolicus and Z. costaricensis DNA detection in C. foxi.

PMID:
42744101
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 16 Sep 2026.

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