Entomological survey on vectors of Bluetongue virus in Northrhine-Westfalia (Germany) during 2007 and 2008.

The entomological monitoring programs done on 19 farms all over Northrhine-Westfalia (Germany) in the years 2007 and 2008 showed that the species Culicoides obsoletus and C. pulicaris are the most common ones and that both act as vectors of the bluetongue-virus of the serotype 8. Especially the species C. obsoletus was found all over the year and also inside or close to stables during the winter months. Therefore, there exists no midge-free period that would interrupt the transmission cycle of bluetongue virus. This makes it necessary that vaccination programs and insecticidal treatment have to consider this and must be preceded even in winter months. From the fact that there was no northward migration of southern Culicoides species (e.g., Culicoides imicola), apparently, globalization and its intense transportation of animals, plants, and other goods is the reason of this BTD outbreak in Central Europe. This conclusion needs urgently special attention on other luring epidemics in the near future.

Light and scanning electron microscopical study on Antarctophthirus ogmorhini lice from the Antarctic seal Leptonychotes weddellii.

Adult lice (Antarctophthirus ogmorhini) from the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddellii were investigated by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. We established that this species is characterized by several morphological peculiarities which enable it to survive the low temperatures of the Antarctic sea and the body depression which occurs during the deep (450 m) and long diving periods of the seals. The main peculiarities are: (1) the cuticle of the ventral and lateral surfaces is much thinner than that of the dorsal surface, (2) the body has numerous stiff spines which are covered by a thick layer of the seal's sebum that closely surrounds the body of the louse, (3) the whole body is covered by a close layer of leaf-like scales which are apparently able to trap air bubbles and thus to provide a small zone of air close to the surface of the cuticle.