The family Cimicidae comprises ectoparasites feeding exclusively on the blood of endothermic animals. Cimicid swallow bugs specifically target swallow birds (Hirundinidae) and their nestlings in infested nests. Bugs of the genus Oeciacus are commonly found in mud nests of swallows and martins, while they rarely visit the homes of humans. Although-unlike other cimicid species-the house martin bug Oeciacus hirundinis has never been reported as a vector of zoonotic pathogens, its possible role in arbovirus circulation in continental Europe is unclear. Samples of O. hirundinis were therefore collected from abandoned house martin (Delichon urbicum) nests in southern Moravia (Czech Republic) during the 2021/2022 winter season and checked for alpha-, flavi- and bunyaviruses by RT-PCR. Of a total of 96 pools consisting of three adult bugs each, one pool tested positive for Usutu virus (USUV)-RNA. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus strain was closely related to Italian and some Central European strains and corresponded to USUV lineage 5. The detection of USUV in O. hirundinis during wintertime in the absence of swallows raises the question for a possible role of this avian ectoparasite in virus overwintering in Europe.

• Keywords
• Hirundo rustica, Oeciacus hirundinis, Cimicidae, House martin, Overwintering, Usutu virus,
• MeSH
• Cimicidae * virology   MeSH
• Flavivirus * isolation & purification   genetics   classification   MeSH
• Phylogeny * MeSH
• Bird Diseases parasitology   virology   MeSH
• RNA, Viral genetics   MeSH
• Seasons * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• RNA, Viral MeSH

Aedes koreicus is an invasive mosquito species originating from East Asia. It has recently been introduced into several countries in Southern, Central and Eastern Europe as well as Central Asia in many of which it has successfully established populations. The biology and ecological requirements of the species are largely unknown, but it is considered as a potential vector of pathogens that requires careful monitoring. We report here the first detection of Ae. koreicus in the Czech Republic, based on a citizen report.

• Keywords
• Aedes koreicus, Central Europe, Invasive species, Mosquito vector, Surveillance,
• MeSH
• Aedes * MeSH
• Culicidae * MeSH
• Mosquito Vectors MeSH
• Introduced Species MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Europe, Eastern MeSH

BACKGROUND: Aedes japonicus is a mosquito species native to North-East Asia that was first found established outside its original geographic distribution range in 1998 and has since spread massively through North America and Europe. In the Czech Republic, the species was not reported before 2021. METHODS: Aedes invasive mosquitoes (AIM) are routinely surveyed in the Czech Republic by ovitrapping at potential entry ports. This surveillance is supported by appeals to the population to report uncommon mosquitoes. The submission of an Ae. japonicus specimen by a citizen in 2021 was followed by local search for aquatic mosquito stages in the submitter's garden and short-term adult monitoring with encephalitis virus surveillance (EVS) traps in its surroundings. Collected Ae. japonicus specimens were subjected to nad4 haplotype and microsatellite analyses. RESULTS: Aedes japonicus was detected for the first time in the Czech Republic in 2021. Aquatic stages and adults were collected in Prachatice, close to the Czech-German border, and eggs in Mikulov, on the Czech-Austrian border. Morphological identification was confirmed by molecular taxonomy. Genetic analysis of specimens and comparison of genetic data with those of other European populations, particularly from Germany, showed the Prachatice specimens to be most closely related to a German population. The Mikulov specimens were more distantly related to those, with no close relatives identifiable. CONCLUSIONS: Aedes japonicus is already widely distributed in Germany and Austria, two countries neighbouring the Czech Republic, and continues to spread rapidly in Central Europe. It must therefore be assumed that the species is already present at more than the two described localities in the Czech Republic and will further spread in this country. These findings highlight the need for more comprehensive AIM surveillance in the Czech Republic.

• Keywords
• Aedes japonicus, Central Europe, Introduction, Invasive species, Surveillance, Vector,
• MeSH
• Aedes * genetics   MeSH
• Haplotypes MeSH
• Introduced Species MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Germany MeSH

The overwintering strategy of the mosquito Culex modestus, an important West Nile virus (WNV) vector in Europe, was explored under field conditions in reedbed (Phragmites australis) ecosystems in early 2019. A total of 30 Cx. modestus females were found in a BG-Sentinel trap placed in a plastic greenhouse as well as in a reference BG-Sentinel trap placed under the open sky, both set up within the reedbeds and inspected every 2-3 days from February 27 to April 10, 2019. Moreover, 186 females of Cx. pipiens, 3 females of Anopheles hyrcanus, and 3 females of Culiseta annulata were trapped in the monitored time span. While all Cx. modestus females tested negative for the presence of WNV and other arboviruses circulating in Central Europe, we confirmed WNV lineage 2 and Ťahyna virus infection in several pools of the collected Cx. pipiens, demonstrating arbovirus overwintering. This pilot study highlights the need for large-scale monitoring activities covering different regions to identify the overwintering strategy of both mosquito-borne viruses and their vectors in Central Europe.

• Keywords
• Anopheles hyrcanus, Culex modestus, Culex pipiens, Culiseta annulata, arboviruses, overwintering,
• MeSH
• Culex physiology   virology   MeSH
• Ecosystem * MeSH
• Seasons MeSH
• West Nile virus isolation & purification   MeSH
• Encephalitis Virus, California isolation & purification   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

In the framework of a regional collaborative project between authorities and scientists, evidence was found of repeated introduction of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) alongside the main road entrances (E461 and E65) connecting Austria and the Slovak Republic with the Czech Republic. In comparison to data from 2012 (17 specimens collected on three occasions), the seasons 2016 (66 specimens on ten occasions) and 2017 (90 specimens on eight occasions) show an apparent increase of introduction events as well as of mosquito numbers and underline the need for more intense surveillance activities.

• Keywords
• Aedes albopictus, Import, Introduction, Invasive vector,
• MeSH
• Aedes virology   MeSH
• Entomology * MeSH
• Insect Vectors MeSH
• Introduced Species * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

We report the distribution of mosquitoes of the maculipennis complex in two distinct areas of the Czech Republic (Bohemia and South Moravia) and in one locality of neighbouring Slovakia with emphasis on the detection of the newly described cryptic species Anopheles daciae (Linton, Nicolescu & Harbach, 2004). A total of 691 mosquitoes were analysed using a species-specific multiplex PCR assay to differentiate between the members of the maculipennis complex. In the Czech Republic, we found Anopheles maculipennis (with a prevalence rate of 1.4%), Anopheles messeae (49.0%) and Anopheles daciae (49.6%). In Slovakia, only An. messeae (52.1%) and An. daciae (47.9%) were detected. In this study, An. daciae was documented for the first time in the two countries where it represented a markedly higher proportion of maculipennis complex species (with an overall prevalence almost reaching 50%) in comparison to previous reports from Germany, Romania and Poland. The determination of the differential distribution of maculipennis complex species will contribute to assessing risks of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria or dirofilariasis.

• Keywords
• Anopheles daciae, Anophelinae, Cryptic species, Maculipennis complex, Mosquitoes, Vector-borne diseases,
• MeSH
• Anopheles parasitology   MeSH
• Culicidae parasitology   MeSH
• Dirofilariasis epidemiology   parasitology   transmission   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Insect Vectors parasitology   MeSH
• Malaria epidemiology   parasitology   transmission   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH
• Slovakia epidemiology   MeSH