Vectors and Vector Borne Diseases: Morphological and Molecular Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, Population Genetics and Contr

Vector-borne diseases are transmitted through arthropods and new associations between them and pathogens are continually being described. In the present study, authors briefly address their research areas, reporting multiple collaboration studies and majo

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stract. Vector-borne diseases are transmitted through arthropods and new associations between them and pathogens are continually being described. In the present study, authors briefly address their research areas, reporting multiple collaboration studies and major findings achieved by the CIISA’s Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases team and its partners over the past few years. Starting with Culicoides, their importance as vectors of animal/human diseases, the description of new species and also species modelling as disease surveillance is discussed. Studies on national lice species in wild birds raise awareness to a so far neglected group, evincing known records and new contributions towards a better knowledge. Tick and tick-borne pathogen studies over the years have contributed to a national portrait of species geographic and seasonal distribution and to pathogen endemic associations, describing most common public and veterinary health threats. In this regard, morphology identification strategies are enounced and molecular markers used considered. Due to a reported rise in prevalence, piroplasms impact is D. W. Ramilo and A. M. Alho---These authors contributed equally for this work. M. Santos-Silva---In memoriam. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020 A. Freitas Duarte and L. Lopes da Costa (Eds.): Advances in Animal Health, Medicine and Production, pp. 321–343, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61981-7_18

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D. W. Ramilo et al. particularly focused as a major concern for cattle production industry sector. A national overview concerning Theileria and Babesia prevalence inferences and diagnosis specificities are reviewed. Ultimately, a national Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum epidemiological update is given while diagnosis and treatment options are debated. Keywords: VBDs · Diagnosis · Risk-assessment · Control · Portugal

Vector-borne diseases are raising awareness throughout the globe due to their devastating repercussions in human and animal health. Known modern challenges as environment, socio-economy and governmental policies are by themselves changing the distribution and the impact of such diseases. Prevention and disease control are dependent on distribution and abundance as well as on population dynamics knowledge. At CIISA´s Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LPDP) different studies are integrated in multidisciplinary studies that continuously contribute to a national overview of the most important vectors and pathogens of animal and also human concern. Culicoides Midges in Portugal: What’s New in the Last Decade? Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) genus contains important vectors of animal and human diseases including Bluetongue Disease (BTD), African Horse Sickness, Schmallenberg and filariosis (Linley et al. 1983; Mellor et al. 1990; Balenghien et al. 2014). The species Culicoides imicola is the main vector of BTD in Southern Europe and Africa (Wilson and Mellor 2009). Before 1998, BTD occurred sporadically in Europe (Barros et al. 2007; Wilson and Mellor 2009).