RESUMEN “Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) del estado de Ceará, noreste de Brasil: Diversidad, nuevos registros y enfoques bionómicos”. Introducción: poco se sabe sobre la biodiversidad del género Culicoides y la posible presencia de especies de vectores en el estado de Ceará, Brasil. Objetivo: mejorar el conocimiento de la biodiversidad y la posible presencia de vectores en el noreste de Brasil. Métodos: utilizamos trampas luminosas CDC, realizamos un levantamiento de las especies de Culicoides en 18 municipios pertenecientes a seis mesorregiones del estado de Ceará. Resultados: un total de 1 453 ejemplares (12 especies) recolectamos. Culicoides guyanensis fue la especie más abundante correspondiendo al 75,84% de los especímenes recolectados. Culicoides venezuelensis está bien distribuida en cinco de las mesorregiones investigadas. Cinco especies reportamos por primera vez para el estado de Ceará y siete especies para los municipios de las mesorregiones estudiadas; discutimos la presencia de especies de importancia sanitaria. Conclusión: con la adición de nuevos registros de especies, existen ahora 12 especies conocidas para el estado de Ceará. La presencia de especies con importancia médica y/o veterinaria en las mesorregiones estudiadas es indicativa de la necesidad de una vigilancia epidemiológica en el estado.

ABSTRACT Introduction: little is known about the biodiversity of the genus Culicoides and the possible presence of vector species in Ceará State, Brazil. Objective: to improve the knowledge about the biodiversity and possible vectors presence in northeastern Brazil. Methods: with CDC light traps we surveyed Culicoides species in 18 municipalities from six mesoregions of Ceará State. Results: we collected 1 453 specimens (12 species). Culicoides guyanensis was the most abundant species, with 75,84% of the collected specimens. Culicoides venezuelensis is well distributed and is found in five Mesoregions. We recorded five species for the first time from Ceará State and seven from the surveyed municipalities; the presence of species with sanitary importance is discussed. Conclusion: with the addition of new species records, there are now 12 species known from Ceará State. The presence of species with medical and/or veterinary importance in the studied Mesoregions is indicative of the need of epidemiological surveillance in this state.

RESUMO: A doença foi estudada em uma propriedade localizada no município de Castanhal, Pará, no período de dezembro de 2009 a dezembro de 2012. A propriedade possuía um plantel de 117 ovinos, 45 da raça Santa Inês e 72 Texel. Dos 72 ovinos da raça Texel, 56 estavam afetados. Os principais sinais clínicos observados foram alopecia, eritema, edema, hiperpigmentação e crostas nas orelhas, parte superior da cabeça e ao redor dos olhos. Em alguns animais as orelhas estavam deformadas, espessadas e com abscessos e/ou miíase. Histologicamente, as lesões caracterizavam-se por hiperqueratose ortoqueratótica, acantose, vacuolização e necrose das células da epiderme. Na derme havia infiltrado inflamatório composto principalmente por eosinófilos e macrófagos, edema e deposição de colágeno. Entre os insetos capturados foram identificados 294 exemplares de Culicoides (Hoffmania) plaumanni Spinelli, 57 de Culicoides (Hoffmania) insignis Lutz e 27 exemplares pertencentes a outras espécies de Culicoides. Conclui-se que C. plaumanni, C. insignis e, possivelmente, outras espécies de Culicoides estejam envolvidos na etiologia da dermatite alérgica nos ovinos da raça Texel no estado do Pará. Ovinos da raça Santa Inês que se encontravam na mesma área e nas mesmas condições não foram afetados, sugerindo menor susceptibilidade.

ABSTRACT: Allergic dermatitis was studied at a farm located in the municipality of Castanhal in the state of Pará, Brazil, from December 2009 to December 2012. Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained during monthly visits to the farm. Skin biopsies were performed for histopathological examinations, and insects were captured with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traps and live-bait entomological vacuum devices. The property housed a herd of both genders, with 45 Santa Inês sheep of different ages and 72 Texel adults. Of the 72 Texel sheep, 56 were affected. Of these, 24 exhibited alopecia, erythema, edema, and crust in the ears, on top of the head, and less often, around the eyes. In addition to the lesions described above, 14 animals exhibited hyperpigmentation of the ears and/or around the eyes and crust in the nose. Another 18 animals exhibited chronic lesions characterized by deformed and thickened ears, alopecia with hyperpigmentation, and in most cases, secondary bacterial infections with abscesses and/or myiasis. Some of these animals had lost part of their ears. Histologically, the lesions were characterized as orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, vacuolization, and necrosis of epidermal cells. An inflammatory infiltrate was present in the dermis, which was composed mainly of eosinophils and macrophages, some lymphocytes and mast cells, and few neutrophils, in addition to edema and collagen deposition. The Santa Inês sheep were not affected. Among the captured insects, 294 specimens of Culicoides (Hoffmania) plaumanni Spinelli, 57 specimens of C. (Hoffmania) insignis Lutz, and 27 specimens of other Culicoides species were identified. We conclude that C. plaumanni, C. insignis, and possibly other Culicoides species are involved in the etiology of allergic dermatitis in Texel sheep in the state of Pará. Santa Inês sheep in the same region and under the same conditions were not affected, which suggests lower susceptibility of these animals.

Uma nova espécie do grupo reticulatus, C. castelloni Santarém e Felippe-Bauer, é descrita e ilustrada baseada em espécimes fêmeas do estado do Amazonas, Brasil. São apresentadas uma chave sistemática, fotografia das asas e tabela com caracteres numéricos das fêmeas e uma sinopse das 24 espécies do grupo reticulatus. Este manuscrito apresenta também novos registros para sete espécies do grupo reticulatus.

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.

Two new species of Culicoides Latreille of the Neotropical subgenus Mataemyia Vargas are described and illustrated based on female specimens from Juruti, Pará, Brazil and compared with their similar congeners. This paper also presents a diagnosis of the subgenus Mataemyia and a systematic key for the identification of the 19 species of the subgenus.

Dermatite alérgica sazonal foi diagnosticada em um rebanho de 40 ovinos da raça Santa Inês no município de Jucurutú, Estado de Rio Grande do Norte. Para o estudo epidemiológico e observação dos sinais clínicos a propriedade foi visitada periodicamente entre 2007 e 2010. Os ovinos eram criados extensivamente em campo nativo cortado pelo rio Piranhas e com um açude permanente. Entre 2007 e 2009 adoeceram 13 (32,5%) ovinos de um total de 40. As lesões eram observadas durante a época da chuva e regrediam total ou parcialmente durante a seca, reaparecendo no próximo período chuvoso. Os animais que foram retirados da área se recuperaram. No final de 2009 foram eliminados os animais susceptíveis e três novos casos apareceram em 2010. 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 infiltrado inflamatório, principalmente perivascular, composto por eosinófilos, macrófagos e plasmócitos. Observou-se queratose de folículos pilosos e dilatação das glândulas sudoríparas. No hemograma, os valores de todos os animais estavam dentro dos valores normais. Em abril e junho de 2010 foram realizadas capturas de insetos com armadilhas luminosas CDC, sendo 110 dípteros capturados, dos quais 43 foram identificados como Culicoides insignis Lutz. Considerando que esta espécie tem sido associada à dermatite alérgica em outras regiões conclui-se que a doença é uma dermatite alérgica sazonal associada à picada de C. insignis.

Seasonal allergic dermatitis is reported in a flock of 40 hair sheep of the Santa Inês breed, in the county of Jucurutú, State of Rio Grande do Norte, in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil. For the epidemiologic and clinical observations the farm was visited periodically from 2007 to 2010. The flock was raised extensively in a Paddock crossed by the Piranhas river, and had also a permanent pond. Between 2007 and 2009, 13 (32.5%) sheep out of 40 were affected. The lesions were observed during the raining season, regressed total or partially during the dry season, and reappeared in the next raining period. Sheep removed to other region recovered. At the end of 2009, all affected sheep were removed from the flock. Three new cases appeared in 2010. 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 infiltration 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 identified as Culicoides insignis Lutz. It is concluded that the disease is a seasonal allergic dermatitis associated with C. insignis bites.

Two new species of Culicoides Latreille of the subgenus Haematomyidium Goeldi are described and illustrated based on female specimens from Pará, Brazil. The new species are compared with their similar congeners.

A new species of the Culicoides reticulatus species group, Culicoides kuripako Felippe-Bauer, is described and illustrated based on females and male specimens from the states of Amazonas and Pará, Brazil. The new species is compared with its similar sympatric congener, Culicoides paucienfuscatus Barbosa.

A new species of the Culicoides (Hoffmania) hylas species group, Culicoides baniwa Felippe-Bauer is described and illustrated based on a female specimen from the state of Amazonas, Brazil. A systematic key, wing photographs, diagramme of the legs pattern, table with numerical characters of females and a synopsis of the 11 species of the C. hylas group are presented. This paper further presents a new record of Culicoides pseudoheliconiae Felippe-Bauer out of the previously defined geographic distribution of the hylas species group, in the province of Misiones, Argentina.

O macho de Culicoides horticola Lutz, 1913 é descrito e ilustrado com base em espécimes coletados no departamento de Madre de Dios, Peru, e no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Culicoides bachmanni Spinelli, 2005 é considerada como sinônimo júnior de C. horticola. Citações e descrições anteriores de C. horticola são discutidas e a espécie é reportada pela primeira vez para o Peru e picando humanos.

The male of Culicoides horticola Lutz, 1913 is described and illustrated from specimens collected in the Department of Madre de Dios, Peru, and in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Culicoides bachmanni Spinelli, 2005 is considered as a junior synonym of C. horticola. Previous citations and descriptions of C. horticola are discussed, and the species is firstly recorded from Peru and biting humans.

Uma nova espécie de Downeshelea Wirth & Grogan, 1988, D. oliveirai, é descrita e ilustrada baseada nas características dos machos e fêmeas. Os espécimes foram coletados nos estados de Rondônia e Pará, região norte do Brasil.

A new species of Downeshelea Wirth & Grogan, 1988, D. oliveirai, is described and illustrated based on male and female characteristics. The specimens were collected in Rondônia and Pará states, northern Brazil.

Uma nova espécie de Culicoides do subgênero Mataemyia Vargas, Culicoides huaynacapaci Felippe-Bauer, é descrita e ilustrada baseada em exemplares fêmeas e machos coletados picando humanos no Estado de Cajamarca, na Amazônia Peruana. A nova espécie é comparada com a espécie afim, C. albuquerquei Wirth & Blanton.

A new species of Culicoides of the subgenus Mataemyia Vargas, Culicoides huaynacapaci Felippe-Bauer, is described and illustrated based on female and male specimens collected biting humans in Department of Cajamarca, in Peruvian Amazonia. The new species is compared with its similar congener C. albuquerquei Wirth & Blanton.

Dez espécies de Culicoides Latreille são reportadas pela primeira vez para os departamentos peruanos de Amazonas, Cajamarca, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Piura e San Martin. A sinonímia e a distribuição das espécies para o novo mundo são fornecidas.

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.

A new species of the Culicoides hylas species group, Culicoides pseudoheliconiae Felippe-Bauer is described and illustrated based on female specimens from Peruvian Amazon, and Culicoides contubernalis Ortiz & Leon from Ecuador is resurrected and redescribed as a valid species. A systematic key, table with numerical characters of females of species of the Culicoides hylas group are given.

São descritas as alterações morfológicas em fêmeas de seis espécies de Culicoides Latreille, 1809 e uma de Monohelea Kieffer, 1917 provenientes do Brasil, México, Panamá e Peru. É discutida a correlação das alterações morfológicas com a taxonomia e as atividades das espécies.

Morphological alterations in six different species of females Culicoides Latreille, 1809 and one of Monohelea Kieffer, 1917 from Brazil, Mexico, Panama and Peru are described. The correlation of the morphological changes with the taxonomy and behavior of the species is discussed.

A new species of Culicoides of the subgenus Diphaomyia, Culicoides jurbergi Felippe-Bauer, is described and illustrated based on female specimens collected biting man and with light traps in Peruvian Amazonia. The species is compared with its similar congener mirsae Ortiz.