CULICOIDES ASPIRATED FROM CATTLE IN COSTA-RICA, HONDURAS, PANAMA AND PUERTO-RICO, AND THEIR ROLE AS POTENTIAL VECTORS OF BLUETONGUE VIRUSES

In 1991, as part of an epidemiological study of bluetongue viruses (BT V) in the Central American and Caribbean region, eight farms located i n Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and Puerto Rico were sampled for Culico ides spp. attacking cattle. Using cattle bait, 3884 biting midges were collected with an electric aspirator during both crepuscular periods. The predominant species captured was Culicoides insignis Lutz (95%), followed by C. furens (Poey) (3.4%), C. filarifer Hoffman/C. ocumarens is Ortiz (0.9%), C. lahillei (Iches) (0.7%), C. arubae Fox and Hoffman (< 0.1%) and C. gorgasi Wirth and Blanton (< 0.1%). Blood-engorged sp ecimens from some of these species were collected and comprised: 18% o f all C. insignis, 36% of C. furens, 37% of filarifer/ocumarensis and 25% of C. lahillei. No engorged C. arubae or C. gorgasi were caught. T hese results confirm earlier findings pointing to C. insignis, C. fure ns and C. filarifer/ocumarensis as potential vectors of BTV in the reg ion.