Diversity and breeding sites of mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) potentially vectors of arboviruses in Belgian equestrian farms

This study aims to determine the potential importance of the livestock farms, especially equestrian, to welcome and favor the proliferation of certain species of mosquito responsible for transmission of arboviruses. The study of biodiversity of Culicidae in the horse farms in Belgium is carried out on species sampled at 64 biotopes in six stations study. Five surveys were realized during 2011 (June, July, August and October) and one in 2012 (June). The morphotaxonomic and molecular study of mosquitoes collected showed the presence of ten species: Culisata annulata Schrank, 1776; Anopheles claviger s.s. Meigen, 1804; An. maculipennis s.s. Meigen, 1818; An. messae Falleroni, 1926; Culex pipiens molestus Forskal, 1775; Cx. pipiens pipiens Linné, 1758; Cx. torrentium Martini, 1925; Cx. hortensis hortensis Ficalbi, 1889; Cx. territans Walker, 1856 and Coquillettidia richardii Ficalbi, 1889. Among the 24893 individuals examined in 2011, Cx. pipiens sl and Cx. torrentium represent 68.00% and 22.38% respectively of total harvest. These last species with Cs. annulata, are dominants and ubiquitous in all the horse farms visited. The species of the genus Anopheles have strong ecological requirements and are therefore associated with some special habitats; other species however have a strong ability to adapt and therefore attend a wide variety of biotopes (Cx. pipiens, Cx. torrentium and Cs. annulata). At the horse farms, water troughs and ponds are the most favorable habitats for larval development of Culicidae. The species potentially vectors of arboviruses that can cause problems in epidemiological equestrian farms are Cx. pipiens sl, Cx. torrentium and Cs. annulata.