| geographical and seasonal distribution of the bluetongue virus vector, culicoides imicola, in central italy. | following the first incursion of bluetongue virus (btv) into italy, the geographical and seasonal distribution of the biting midge culicoides imicola kieffer (diptera: ceratopogonidae), the main vector of btv and african horse sickness virus, was investigated in two regions of central italy (lazio and tuscany). surveillance of culicoides was carried out between july 2001 and december 2002 using light traps: 1917 collections were made in 381 trap sites, well distributed across both regions. durin ... | 2003 | 14651652 |
| identification of culicoides obsoletus (diptera: ceratopogonidae) as a vector of bluetongue virus in central italy. | in 2001 and 2002, 235 outbreaks of bluetongue were observed in the lazio and tuscany regions of central italy. during entomological surveillance culicoides imicola, the main vector of bluetongue virus in the mediterranean region, was detected in only 14 of 28 municipalities affected by outbreaks; culicoides obsoletus was the most abundant species, contributing 83 per cent of individuals in catches, whereas c. imicola contributed only 2 per cent. in affected municipalities the maximum catch of c. ... | 2005 | 15786918 |
| active circulation of bluetongue vaccine virus serotype-2 among unvaccinated cattle in central italy. | several seroconversions occurring in 2002 among sentinel cattle during the bluetongue-vaccination campaign in lazio and tuscany (central italy) led to the suspicion of vaccine-virus circulation. therefore in 2003, 17 seroconverting sentinel herds were investigated for the characteristics of the virus involved. from these farms, 91 unvaccinated animals and 57 culicoides pools were tested for the presence of the bluetongue vaccine virus (serotype-2) or other strains. the presence of vaccine virus ... | 2005 | 15820110 |