title: Diversity and ecology survey of mosquitoes potential vectors in Belgian equestrian farms: A threat prevention of mosquito-borne equine arboviruses.
abstract: Emergence of West Nile Virus was recently recorded in several European countries, which can lead to severe health problems in horse populations. Europe is also at risk of introduction of mosquito-borne equine alphavirus from Americas. Prevention of these arboviruses requires a clear understanding of transmission cycles, especially their vectors. To characterize mosquito fauna, their ecology and identify potential vectors of equine arboviruses in Belgium, entomological surveys of six equestrian farms located in the Wolloon Region were conducted during 2011-2012. The harvest of mosquitoes was based on larval sampling (272 samples from 111 breeding sites) and monthly adults trapping (CO2-baited traps, Mosquito Magnet Liberty Plus). Among 51,493 larvae and 319 adult mosquitoes collected, morphological identification showed the presence of 11 species: Anopheles claviger (Meigen), An. maculipennis s.l. (Meigen), An. plumbeus (Stephens), Culex hortensis (Ficalbi), Cx. territans (Walker), Cx. pipiens s.l. L., Cx. torrentium (Martini), Coquillettidia richiardii (Ficalbi), Culiseta annulata (Schrank), Aedes cantans (Meigen), Ae. geniculatus (Olivier). Molecular identification of Cx. pipiens species complex allowed the detection of three molecular forms, Pipiens (92.3%), Molestus (4.6%) and Hybrid (3.1%). Larvae of Cx. pipiens sl and Cx. torrentium were omnipresent and the most abundant species. Water troughs, ponds and slurry (liquid manure) were the most favorable breeding sites of mosquito larvae. Based upon behavior and ecology of the identified mosquito species, Studied Belgian equestrian farms seem to provide a suitable environment and breeding sites for the proliferation of potential vectors of arboviruses and those being a real nuisance problem for horses and neighboring inhabitants.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium. Electronic address: entomologie.gembloux@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Slimane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boukraa
authors.affiliation: Veterinary virology and animal viral diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH Center, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10, B43b, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de La Grandiere
authors.affiliation: Unit of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bawin
authors.affiliation: Medical Entomology Unit, Pasteur Institute, Ambatofotsikely, 101-Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Fara N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Raharimalala
authors.affiliation: Unit of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.affiliation: Unit of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haubruge
authors.affiliation: Veterinary virology and animal viral diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH Center, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10, B43b, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.affiliation: Unit of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francis
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D001103:Arboviruses / Q000502:physiology; D001530:Belgium; D044822:Biodiversity; D009033:Culicidae / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D006736:Horses; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Belgium; Culex; Equine arbovirus; Horse; Mosquito; West Nile Virus