Post-epidemic Occurrence of Bluetongue Virus Vectors (Culicoides Species) în Iași County

Culicoides is a genus of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae, representing a big threat, giving that several species serve as biological vectors of pathogens of veterinary importance. BTV distribution and persistence is thought to be almost entirely dependent upon the presence or absence of Culicoides adults vector. In this study, biting midges were collected during 2015-2016, once a week, from April to December. In the first year, 2617 BTV vector specimens were collected and identified as Culicoides obsoletus (41.2%; 95% CI: 39-43), Culicoides pulicaris (58%; 95% CI: 56-59) and Culicoides nubeculosus (0.8%; 95% CI: 0.4-1.1). In the second year, 165 BTV vector specimens were collected and identified as Culicoides obsoletus (44.25%; 95% CI: 36-51), Culicoides pulicaris (50.3%; 95% CI: 42-57), Culicoides dewulfi (4.84%; 95% CI: 1.5-8.1) and Culicoides nubeculosus (0.61%; 95% CI: 0.5-1.7). Culicoides pulicaris and Culicoides obsoletus complex were especially abundant within the two collection sites in Iași County. Our data on post-epidemic occurrence and composition of BTV vector species in the studied area will facilitate a better understanding of Culicoides vectors distribution and the possible role in bluetongue virus overwintering.