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Identification of Culicoides obsoletus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a vector of bluetongue virus in central Italy
Author(s) -
De Liberato C.,
Scavia G.,
Lorenzetti R.,
Scaramozzino P.,
Amaddeo D.,
Cardeti G.,
Scicluna M.,
Ferrari G.,
Autorino G. L.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.156.10.301
Subject(s) - culicoides , ceratopogonidae , orbivirus , outbreak , vector (molecular biology) , serotype , biology , veterinary medicine , virology , virus , geography , reoviridae , zoology , medicine , biochemistry , gene , rotavirus , recombinant dna
In 2001 and 2002, 235 outbreaks of bluetongue were observed in the Lazio and Tuscany regions of central Italy. During entomological surveillance Culicoides imicola , the main vector of bluetongue virus in the Mediterranean region, was detected in only 14 of 28 municipalities affected by outbreaks; Culicoides obsoletus was the most abundant species, contributing 83 per cent of individuals in catches, whereas C imicola contributed only 2 per cent. In affected municipalities the maximum catch of C obsoletus was 18,000 specimens, compared with 54 of C imicola . In October 2002 bluetongue virus serotype 2 was isolated from a single pool of wild‐caught, non‐blood‐engorged parous C obsoletus inoculated on to BHK‐21 cells. Its identity was confirmed by reverse transcriptase‐ PCR .