The emergence of multiple strains of bluetongue virus (BTV) and the recent discovery of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in Europe have highlighted the fact that exotic Culicoides-borne arboviruses from remote geographic areas can enter and spread rapidly in this region. This review considers the potential for this phenomenon to impact on human health in Europe, by examining evidence of the role of Culicoides biting midges in the zoonotic transmission and person-to-person spread of arboviruses worldwide. To date, the only arbovirus identified as being primarily transmitted by Culicoides to and between humans is Oropouche virus (OROV). This member of the genus Orthobunyavirus causes major epidemics of febrile illness in human populations of South and Central America and the Caribbean. We examine factors promoting sustained outbreaks of OROV in Brazil from an entomological perspective and assess aspects of the epidemiology of this arbovirus that are currently poorly understood, but may influence the risk of incursion into Europe. We then review the secondary and rarely reported role of Culicoides in the transmission of high-profile zoonotic infections, while critically reviewing evidence of this phenomenon in endemic transmission and place this in context with the presence of other potential vector groups in Europe. Scenarios for the incursions of Culicoides-borne human-to-human transmitted and zoonotic arboviruses are then discussed, along with control measures that could be employed to reduce their impact. These measures are placed in the context of legislative measures used during current and ongoing outbreaks of Culicoides-borne arboviruses in Europe, involving both veterinary and public health sectors.

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Culicoides paraensis (Goeldi), a common and widespread American bloodsucking midge that has been incriminated in the transmission of Mansonellosis and Oropouche Fever of humans in South America, is redescribed and figured. All published records are listed and new distribution is based on examination of extensive collections from throughout its range. Three closely related species of the subgenus Haematomyidium that have been confused with C. paraensis are briefly redescribed and figured, and a key is presented for their identification

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A new species of the reticulatus species group, C. castelloni Santarém and Felippe-Bauer, is described and illustrated based on female specimens from the state of Amazonas, Brazil. A systematic key, wing photographs and table with numerical characters of females and a synopsis of 24 species of the Culicoides reticulatus group are presented. This paper presents further new records for seven species of the reticulatus group.

Ten species of Culicoides Latreille are reported for the first time from Peruvian Departments of Amazonas, Cajamarca, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Piura and San Martin. The synonymy and distribution of the species in the New World are given.

Seven new species of the Culicoides reticulatus species group are described and illustrated based on specimens from Colombia, Panama and Brazilian states of northern (Amazonas, Pará and Roraima) and southeast region (Rio de Janeiro). The new species are compared with their similar congener, Culicoides reticulatus Lutz, and a systematic key, table with numerical characters to the females of the species are provided. Redescription of Culicoides reticulatus Lutz is given based on type series deposited in the Ceratopogonidae Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil. The distribution of these species is presented in figure 9.

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 32(6) The skin of the affected sheep was whitish, irregularly thickened, with alopecia, crusts, and intense pruritus. Those lesions were localized more frequently in the head (ears and periocular and frontal regions) but in some animals the dorsum and croup were also affected. Histologic lesions of the epidermis were hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, hypergranulosis, and moderate spongiosis. The dermis showed inϐiltration by eosinophils, macrophages and plasma cells, mainly perivascular. The hair follicles showed keratosis and the sudoriparous glands were dilated. No changes were observed in the differential blood count. In April and June 2010 insects were captured by the use of CDC light trap. Forty three out of 110 dipterous captured were identiϐied as Culicoides insignis Lutz. It is concluded that the disease is a seasonal allergic dermatitis associated with C. insignis bites. A pele apresentava lesões alopécicas, crostosas, enrugadas, esbranquiçadas e com intenso prurido, localizados na região da cabeça (orelhas, ao redor dos olhos e região frontal), região dorsal do corpo e garupa. Histologicamente, a epiderme apresentou hiperqueratose, acantose, hipergranulose e moderada espongiose. Na derme havia