Development and validation of IIKC: an interactive identification key for Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) females from the Western Palaearctic region

Mathieu Bruno, Cetre-Sossah Catherine, Garros Claire, Chavernac David, Balenghien Thomas, Setier-Rio Marie-Laure, Vignes-Lebbe Régine, Ung Visotheary, Candolfi Ermanno, Delecolle Jean Claude. 2012. Development and validation of IIKC: an interactive identification key for Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) females from the Western Palaearctic region. Parasites and Vectors, 5 (137), 23 p.

https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-5-137

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Quartile : Q1, Sujet : PARASITOLOGY

Résumé : Background and methods The appearance of bluetongue virus (BTV) in 2006 within northern Europe exposed a lack of expertise and resources available across this region to enable the accurate morphological identification of species of Culicoides Latreille biting midges, some of which are the major vectors of this pathogen. This work aims to organise extant Culicoides taxonomic knowledge into a database and to produce an interactive identification key for females of Culicoides in the Western Palaearctic (IIKC: Interactive identification key for Culicoides). We then validated IIKC using a trial carried out by six entomologists based in this region with variable degrees of experience in identifying Culicoides. Results The current version of the key includes 98 Culicoides species with 10 morphological variants, 61 descriptors and 837 pictures and schemes. Validation was carried out by six entomologists as a blind trial with two users allocated to three classes of expertise (beginner, intermediate and advanced). Slides were identified using a median of seven steps and seven minutes and user confidence in the identification varied from 60% for failed identifications to a maximum of 80% for successful ones. By user class, the beginner group successfully identified 44.6% of slides, the intermediate 56.8% and the advanced 74.3%. Conclusions Structured as a multi-entry key, IIKC is a powerful database for the morphological identification of female Culicoides from the Western Palaearctic region. First developed for use as an interactive identification key, it was revealed to be a powerful back-up tool for training new taxonomists and to maintain expertise level. The development of tools for arthropod involvement in pathogen transmission will allow clearer insights into the ecology and dynamics of Culicoides and in turn assist in understanding arbovirus epidemiology.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : Culicoides, taxonomie, identification, femelle, virus bluetongue, vecteur de maladie, morphologie animale, banque de données

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Europe

Classification Agris : L60 - Taxonomie et géographie animales
L72 - Organismes nuisibles des animaux
L73 - Maladies des animaux
C30 - Documentation et information

Champ stratégique Cirad : Axe 4 (2005-2013) - Santé animale et maladies émergentes

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