Seasonal and spatial variation in Culicoides community structure and their potential role in transmitting Simbu serogroup viruses in Israel.

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are a successful group of small (1-3 mm) haematophagous flies, some species of which are biological vectors of veterinary arboviruses, such as bluetongue virus, epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus, African horse sickness virus and Simbu serogroup viruses. In this study, we examine seasonal and spatial effects on the presence and distribution of Culicoides communities associated with ruminant and equine farms in Israel, and their infection with Simbu serogroup viruses. Our results demonstrate that both the vectors and the viruses are widely spread in Israel, including regions that were previously considered Culicoides-free. Moreover, our results show that although seasonality affects infection with Simbu serogroup viruses, both viruses and potential vectors can be found year round, suggesting continuous circulation of Simbu serogroup viruses in Israeli livestock farms. Finally, this study provides novel and basic information on Simbu serogroup-infected Culicoides in Israel: it demonstrates that Sathuperi, Shuni and Peaton viruses were circulating in Israel in 2015-2017 as they were found in C. imicola and C. oxystoma, both potential vectors of these viruses, and supplies the first-ever genomic detection of Sathuperi in Israel. Consequently, the data emerging from this study are of importance in understanding the epidemiology of arboviruses in Israel and are of relevance to the potential spread and possible future outbreaks of different Simbu serogroup viruses within the Mediterranean region and Europe.