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→Vector Competence
===Vector Competence===
===Vector Competence===
Certain information can help inferences be made regarding BTV vectors in Britain. Both ''C. obsoletus'' and ''C. pulicaris'' have been implicated in transmission before. Previously, BTV has been isolated from ''C. obsoletus'' in Cyprus, and African horse sickness virus (another Orbivirus) in Spain. ''C. obsoletus'' and ''C. pulicaris'' were also the most abundant ''Culicoides'' species detrected in the 1999 BTV epizootic in Greece and Bulgaria, and so are strongly suspected of acting as vectors in this case. They may also have mediated outbreaks in Serbia, FYR Macedonia, Croatia and Bosnia in 2001-2002, where ''C. imicola'' has not been recorded. Both species are therefore contenders to transmit bluetongue virus in the UK.
Certain information can help inferences be made regarding BTV vectors in Britain. Both ''C. obsoletus'' and ''C. pulicaris'' have been implicated in transmission before. Previously, BTV has been isolated from ''C. obsoletus'' in Cyprus, and African horse sickness virus (another Orbivirus) in Spain. ''C. obsoletus'' and ''C. pulicaris'' were also the most abundant ''Culicoides'' species detected in the 1999 BTV epizootic in Greece and Bulgaria, and so are strongly suspected of acting as vectors in this case. They may also have mediated outbreaks in Serbia, FYR Macedonia, Croatia and Bosnia in 2001-2002, where ''C. imicola'' has not been recorded. Both species are therefore contenders to transmit bluetongue virus in the UK<sup>1</sup>.
A British population of ''C. obsoletus'' has been shown to have and oral susceptibility rate of less than 2%<sup>1</sup>, suggesting that ''C. obsoletus'' is likely to be an inefficient or minor vector of BTV in the UK. However, it is possible that a high abundance or survival rate may compensate for this low vector competence. Indeed, ''C. brevitarsis'', the major Australian vector of BTV, has an extremely low experimental competency yet is an effective vector in the field.
A British population of ''C. obsoletus'' has been shown to have and oral susceptibility rate of less than 2%<sup>1</sup>, suggesting that ''C. obsoletus'' is likely to be an inefficient or minor vector of BTV in the UK. However, it is possible that a high abundance or survival rate may compensate for this low vector competence. Indeed, ''C. brevitarsis'', the major Australian vector of BTV, has an extremely low experimental competency yet is an effective vector in the field.