Other vectors of disease
UKHSA also investigate other vectors of disease that are present in the UK, or might enter the UK in the future.
Applies to England
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Topic: health impacts
Vector-borne disease: other vectors
Culicoides biting midges
Culicoides biting midges are small blood-sucking flies (Diptera) belonging to the Ceratopogonidae family. In the UK, some species of Culicoides biting midges are biological vectors of arboviruses of veterinary importance (bluetongue virus and Schmallenberg virus). Culicoides impunctatus is a particular nuisance biter to humans most commonly found in the Scottish Highlands.
Ad hoc surveys are carried out to understand Culicoides diversity and host feeding preferences in a variety of habitats in the UK. This helps to better prepare for the potential emergence of midge-associated disease transmission.
Sand fly surveillance
Phlebotomine sand flies are small golden brown coloured insects (3 to 4mm long) and are known vectors of several pathogens including Leishmania and Toscana virus. The females are blood feeders targeting a wide variety of hosts, including humans, livestock, dogs, rabbits, urban and wild rodents. Sand flies are not currently known to occur in the UK.
Sand flies are associated with warmer regions including the southern and eastern Mediterranean. In connection with global warming, they are gradually expanding northwards and can be found as far north as northern France, Belgium ang Germany. The increased popularity of importing dogs and the movement of dogs infected with Leishmania into areas where the sandflies have recently established may have a significant impact on public health.
Surveillance has been initiated in areas of southern England with potentially suitable habitats for sand flies, to monitor for the presence of this vector.
Phortica surveillance
Phortica variegata, a fly in the family Drosopholidae, is found in the UK (Gloucestershire, Kent, Berkshire, and the New Forest) and Europe.
Male P. variegata flies feed on lacrimal secretions of mammals and can transmit the eye worm Thelazia callipaeda, which can cause a range of symptoms from conjunctivitis to keratitis or corneal ulcers.
T. callipaeda has a broad host range and has been reported in:
- dogs
- cats
- rabbits
- wolves
- foxes
- hares
- humans
T. callipaeda has been detected in dogs imported into the UK, but there have been no reports of localised transmission.
We are conducting surveillance to establish P. variegata’s current distribution in the UK, screen any P. variegata flies caught for T. callipaeda, and improve and develop our current trapping methodology for P. variegata.