An updated catalog of Culicoides biting midges and associated microbial constituents from New Jersey

Biting midges in the genus Culicoides are responsible for billions of dollars of economic losses to the global livestock industry each year by virtue of their status as vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). Both viruses circulate endemically in the United States, including the Northeast, however the only two confirmed vector species of Culicoides occur in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the U.S. In New Jersey, outbreaks of both BTV and EHDV have occurred in recent years, however the associated insect vectors are currently unknown, as is the broader Culicoides species diversity throughout the state. To address these questions, we have undertaken a broad multi-year surveillance project to identify NJ midge species using a combination of pooled meta-barcoding approaches as well as morphological characteristics. In addition, we performed quantitative PCR testing for both BTV and EHDV on pooled samples, supplemented with a shotgun metaviromic analysis to enumerate the broader viral diversity within New Jersey Culicoides. Our results represent an important contribution to the knowledge of biting midge diversity and their vector potential in New Jersey.