Blood-sucking midges from the genus Culicoides ( Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) act as filed vectors of human and animal diseases

Bluetongue and Shmallenberg diseases, the arboviral infections of ruminants, caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV) of Orbivirus genus ( Reoviridae ) and so-called Shmallenberg virus (SBV) preliminarily attributed as a member of Orthobunyavirus genus ( Bunyaviridae ), respectively, are mainly transmitted by blood-sucking midges from Culicoides genus. They are widely distributed, with a total of over 80 species documented in Russia (V.M. Glukhova, 1989), including the Far North territories. Of them, a total of 68 species are associated with Siberia and the Far East. They are C. оbsoletus, C. okumansis, C. scoticus, C. pulicaris, C. grisescens, C. pallidicornis, C. sufas-cipennis, C. fascipennis, C. cubitalis, C. stigma, C. helveticus, C. parroti, C. vexans, C. custans, C. letifrontis, C. nubeculosus, C. circumscriptus, C. salinarius, C. pectipennis, C. odibilis, C. simulator, C. ibericus, C. sinanoensis, C. sanguisuga, C. filicinus, C. chiopterus, C. fagineus, C. riethi, C. gornostaevae, C. punctatus, C. impunctatus, C. reconditus, C. pallidicornis, C. manchuriensis, C. dobyi, etc. Numerous small ponds, marshy areas and litter from decaying plant remains in different landscape and climatic zones are favorable for the development of insects. The unprecedented incursions of BTV (six serotypes in 12 EU countries since 1998 (B.V. Purse et al., 2005), and the emerging so-called Schmallenberg virus (B. Hoffman et al., 2012) underscored a need to revise the list of Culicoides species, following climate change events. Only a few recent studies have been reported so far, which negatively affects risk analysis and impedes understanding the biology of vector-borne diseases. This review attempts to briefly describe Culicoides species in Russia and consider their role in the context of vector-virus-host. Characteristics of Culicoides populations at different habitats are discussed. The endogenic mechanisms of interaction between the vectors and the transmitted viruses are considered in more detail. A probability of BTV permission in livestock in Russia is considered based on overwintering and transmission mechanisms.