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Title: Papular Dermatitis Induced in Guinea Pig by Biting Midge Culicoides Sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidaie)

Author
item O'TOOLE, D. - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item PEREZ DE LEON, A. - SYNEXIS
item HEARNE, C. - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item McHolland, Linda
item YUN, L. - NOBLE FOUNDATION
item TABACHNICK, WALTER - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2003
Publication Date: 6/1/2003
Citation: O'Toole, D., Perez De Leon, A.A., Hearne, C., Mcholland, L.E., Yun, L., Tabachnick, W. 2003. Papular Dermatitis Induced in Guinea Pig by Biting Midge Culicoides Sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidaie). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 15:67-71.

Interpretive Summary: Guinea pigs were fed on by colony-bred biting midges, Culicoides sonorensis. Histological, ultrastructural, and virological examinations were performed on the abdominal skin at the site of insect bites. Small, superficial ulcers developed at feeding sites and healed within 24–48 hours. Animals developed small red round papules, or bumps, 5 days after feeding that persisted until the study ended at 12 days after feeding. Histological and ultrastructural changes to the skin were noted. No viral agents or broken mouthparts were identified in lesions. The skin inflammation observed may represent a host reaction to persisting insect salivary secretion and should be considered as an additional consequence of blood feeding in future studies involving biting midges.

Technical Abstract: Histological, ultrastructural, and virological examinations were performed on abdominal skin from guinea pigs after a blood meal by colony-bred biting midges, Culicoides sonorensis. Small, superficial, cutaneous, crateriform ulcers with necrosis of superficial dermis developed at feeding sites and healed within 24–48 hours. Animals developed nonpruritic erythematous papules 5 days after feeding that persisted until the study ended at 12 days after feeding. Papules corresponded histologically to foci of epidermal hyperplasia and superficial interstitial dermatitis with intraepidermal micropustules and scattered intraepidermal polykaryons. The principal ultrastructural changes were spongiosis in germinal epithelium and neutrophilic-histiocytic exocytosis. No viral agents or broken mouthparts were identified in lesions. The dermatitis may represent a host reaction to persisting insect salivary secretion and should be considered as an additional consequence of blood feeding in future studies involving biting midges.