Abstract:
The Schultzei group of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is distributed throughout Africa to northern Asia and
Australasia and includes several potential vector species of livestock pathogens. The taxonomy of the species belonging to
this species group is confounded by the wide geographical distribution and morphological variation exhibited by many
species. In this work, morphological and molecular approaches were combined to assess the taxonomic validity of the
species and morphological variants of the Schultzei group found in Senegal by comparing their genetic diversity with that
of specimens from other geographical regions. The species list for Senegal was updated with four species: Culicoides kingi, C.
oxystoma, C. enderleini and C. nevilli being recorded. This is the first record of C. oxystoma from Africa south of Sahara, and its
genetic relationship with samples from Israel, Japan and Australia is presented. This work provides a basis for ecological
studies of the seasonal and spatial dynamics of species of this species group that will contribute to better understanding of
the epidemiology of the viruses they transmit.
