title: Detection of Culicoides brevitarsis activity in Kyushu.
abstract: Culicoides brevitarsis transmits important ruminant arboviruses, such as Akabane, Aino and bluetongue viruses. The presence of this species has so far been recognized primarily in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. In entomological surveys in 2008 and 2009, C. brevitarsis was collected at 8 sites throughout Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefectures. The collection sites are all located near pastures, where the larvae of C. brevitarsis can grow in cattle dung left in the field. C. brevitarsis was confirmed at the same sites in two consecutive years, suggesting that it overwinters in Kyushu. Given the risk of arbovirus transmission, the ecology of C. brevitarsis in Japan, such as its distribution range, seasonal abundance and larval breeding sites, should be investigated in more detail.
authors.affiliation: Kyushu Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, 2702 Chuzan, Kagoshima 891–0105, Japan. tyanase@affrc.go.jp
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanase
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumori
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirafuji
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamakawa
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayama
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002519:Ceratopogonidae / Q000502:physiology*; D003710:Demography; D007564:Japan; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors