Molecular Detection of Filarial and Avian Haemosporidian Parasites in Culicoides Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Laos

Abstract

Simple Summary Insect-borne diseases are major threats to human and animal health. Understanding which blood-feeding insects carry parasites is essential for assessing disease risk and developing effective control strategies. In this study, we screened biting midges of the genus Culicoides from Laos for parasites using molecular methods. Overall, 59 of 237 female specimens (25%) were infected with at least one parasite. The detected parasites belonged to the groups Onchocercidae (filarial nematodes), Leucocytozoon spp., Plasmodium sp., and Haemoproteus spp. Several abundant Culicoides species (C. actoni, C. mahasarakhamense, C. huffi, and C. guttifer) are known to feed on livestock, including chickens, cattle, and water buffalo, which are potential hosts of these parasites. Our findings provide the first molecular evidence of parasite infections in Culicoides spp. from Laos and identify several species that may contribute to parasite transmission in livestock. These results provide a foundation for future studies on the epidemiology and control of insect-borne diseases in the country.