title: Spatial and temporal distribution of Culicoides species in mainland Portugal (2005-2010). Results of the Portuguese Entomological Surveillance Programme.
abstract: Bluetongue virus (BTV) is transmitted by Culicoides biting midges and causes an infectious, non-contagious disease of ruminants. It has been rapidly emerging in southern Europe since 1998. In mainland Portugal, strains of BTV belonging to three serotypes have been detected: BTV-10 (1956-1960), BTV-4 (2004-2006 and 2013) and BTV-1 (2007-2012). This paper describes the design, implementation and results of the Entomological Surveillance Programme covering mainland Portugal, between 2005 and 2010, including 5,650 caches. Culicoides imicola Kieffer was mostly found in central and southern regions of Portugal, although it was sporadically detected in northern latitudes. Its peak activity occurred in the autumn and it was active during the winter months in limited areas of the country. Obsoletus group was present at the highest densities in the north although they were found throughout the country in substantial numbers. Culicoides activity occurred all year round but peaked in the spring. A generalized linear mixed model was developed for the analysis of the environmental factors associated with activity of the species of Culicoides suspected vectors of BTV in the country. For C. imicola Kieffer, the most important variables were month, diurnal temperature range (DTR), the number of frost days (FRS) and median monthly temperature (TMP). For the Obsoletus group, the most important factors were month, diurnal temperature range (DTR), and linear and quadratic terms for median monthly temperature (TMP). The results reported can improve our understanding of climatic factors in Culicoides activity influencing their distribution and seasonal pattern.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Integrative Entomology Group, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Telmo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ramilo
authors.affiliation: Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária, Food and Veterinary Central Services, Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amador
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipa M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.affiliation: Entomology Group, Vector-borne Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lara E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Harrup
authors.affiliation: Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Animal Pathology (Animal Health), Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lucientes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boinas
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D001820:Bluetongue virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D002519:Ceratopogonidae / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D016014:Linear Models; D011174:Portugal; D012621:Seasons; D065288:Serogroup; D013696:Temperature