Pilgrim, Jack 
ORCID: 0000-0002-2941-1482
(2020)
The prevalence of endosymbiotic bacteria in Culicoides biting midges and the distribution of Torix group Rickettsia in arthropod hosts
PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.
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Abstract
Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), are the vectors of several viruses affecting livestock including bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses. There are no effective control methods of the vectors, and disease control therefore relies on vaccines which, given the rapid emergence/spread of the viruses, are often not available. Thus, there is increasing interest in the heritable bacteria (endosymbionts) of invertebrates as they present novel targets for control initiatives. For example, the endosymbiont Wolbachia is capable of inducing a “virus blocking” phenotype in mosquito hosts. Previous studies on biting midges, have revealed infections with the endosymbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia and Cardinium. However, other common symbionts, such as Rickettsia, are underexplored. I first clarify which Culicoides vector species are appropriate for further study of Cardinium-midge interactions. Reinvestigation of a previous UK screening study indicates spurious identification of Cardinium infection in the vector species C. pulicaris, as a result of inappropriate methodology and interpretation. In addition, this chapter establishes associations between mitochondrial haplotypes (mitotypes), used as a phylogeographic ... (continues)
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Mar 2020 11:36 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jul 2025 15:53 |
| DOI: | 10.17638/03075607 |
| Supervisors: |
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| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3075607 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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