Distribution of Culicoides in Greece |
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| Authors: | Michael J. Patakakis Margarita Papazahariadou Anthony Wilson Philip S. Mellor Stavros Frydas Orestis Papadopoulos |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Ministry for Rural Development and Food, Athens Centre of Veterinary Institutes, Parasitology Department, 25 Neapoleos str. Ag. Paraskevi, 153 10 Athens, Greece;2. Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece;3. Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, United Kingdom |
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| Abstract: | Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were trapped between 1999 and 2004 at 122 locations in mainland Greece and on most of the larger Aegean and Ionian islands, using OVI light traps, in order to determine the distribution and seasonal activity of bluetongue virus vectors and other Culicoides species. Thirty‐nine Culicoides species were identified, six of which (C. furcillatus, C. impunctatus, C. paolae, C. pictipennis, C. riethi, and C. scoticus) were identified for the first time in Greece. Two of these (C. impunctatus and C. scoticus) may be of veterinary importance due to their role as vectors of bluetongue virus and related orbiviruses. In addition, C. imicola was detected for the first time in mainland Greece. |
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| Keywords: | Culicoides bluetongue Greece light trap distribution seasonality |
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