DNA barcoding of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and detection of Leishmania and other trypanosomatids in southern Thailand

The findings of the present study demonstrate the presence of mixed blood hosts and co-circulation of L. martiniquensis and L. orientalis in Culicoides in areas of leishmaniasis, as well as cryptic species of Culicoides biting midges, through an integrative taxonomic approach. These findings support the hypothesis that Culicoides biting midges may serve as potential vectors in southern Thailand, and vector diversity is a contributing factor to the risk of zoonotic transmission.