Evaluation of the feeding habits of Culicoides paraensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in areas with human cases of Oropouche in the Vale do Ribeira region, São Paulo State.

• Grant number: 25/14219-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Adriano Pinter dos Santos
• Grantee: Caio Cotrim Ferreira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Oropouche Fever, caused by a virus from the Orthobunyavirus genus (OROV), has gained increasing attention, especially due to the rise in human cases in Brazil starting in 2024, with expansion into previously unaffected regions, such as the state of São Paulo. Mainly transmitted by the insect Culicoides paraensis, the disease presents symptoms similar to other arboviruses, including fever, muscle and joint pain; in severe cases, it may be associated with neurological and hemorrhagic signs.This project aims to investigate the feeding habits of C. paraensis in an Atlantic Forest area in the Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo - the region where the first cases in the state were confirmed. The study will be conducted in the municipalities of Cajati and Pariquera-Açu, using light traps to capture the insects. Only engorged female C. paraensis will be analyzed using ELISA tests to identify their blood meal sources, including humans, birds, dogs, cats, and rodents.The main objective is to characterize the potential hosts involved in the transmission cycle and, in doing so, identify possible amplifiers and sources of infection for the virus in the region. Based on the results, the study expects to gather data on how the sylvatic and urban transmission cycles of OROV function and contribute to the development of monitoring and control strategies. This project is relevant as it addresses an emerging zoonosis and provides critical information to support public health actions in the context of the virus's geographic expansion. (AU)