Bluetongue Virus Infections in Cattle Herds of Manabí Province of Ecuador

Recovery of multireassortant bluetongue virus serotype 6 sequences from a mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and Dorset sheep (Ovis aries) in Colorado

We report the discovery of two bluetongue virus serotype 6 (BTV-6) reassortants recovered from a domestic sheep and a free-ranging mule deer in northern Colorado. At the time of this publication, whole-genome sequencing of BTV-6 isolates in the Western U.S. have not been undertaken. These findings reflect the incursive movement of geographically distinct BTV serotypes into important agricultural areas of the U.S. and demonstrate reassortment with regionally circulating serotypes.

An updated list of the Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) fauna from Ecuador

An updated list of biting midges of the genus Culicoides inhabiting Ecuador is provided. Entomological investigations were carried out from July 2010 to May 2019 using CDC light traps in three Ecuadorian regions (Amazon basin, Andean (foothills and highlands) and Pacific Coast). A total of 12,073 Culicoides specimens from seven subgenera and nine species groups were collected. More species and higher variation were found in the Amazon basin than in either of the Andes regions or coastal sites. A total of 53 species were identified. Of these, 15 are herein reported as new species records for Ecuador: Culicoides acotylus Lutz, C. aitkeni Wirth & Blanton, C. benarrochi Ortiz & Mirsa, C. carvalhoi Wirth & Blanton, C. freitasi Wirth & Blanton, C. ginesi Ortíz, C. lopesi Barretto, C. lyrinotatus Wirth & Blanton, C. profundus Santarém, Felippe-Bauer & Trindade, C. pseudoreticulatus Santarém, Felippe-Bauer & Castellón, C. quasiparaensis Clastrier, C. vernoni Wirth & Blanton, C. youngi Wirth & Barreto and two new species. Our results show that the updated list of the Ecuadorian Culicoides fauna comprises 70 species. This inventory highlights the presence of species that have been incriminated as vectors of disease elsewhere in animals and humans, mainly C. insignis and C. paraensis.