Mosquitoes ‒ Vectors of West Nile Virus in Croatia

Croatian fauna consists of 50 mosquito species, and 15 of them have medical importance. Only 10 species are capable of transmitting the West Nile Virus (WNV). In Croatia the most capable vector is Culex pipiens c. According to species distribution and abundance all of Croatia is a risk area for WNV transmission. Culex pipiens c. is the dominant species (share of 5-10%) in eastern Croatia, but Culex pipiens c. together with Aedes albopictus are now eudominant species in the Adriatic area. Other species have lower vector capacity or they as a species are rare in Croatia. Ecological conditions for mosquito development during 2012 were not favourable and there were not too many mosquitoes in Slavonia, except the area along the Drava River where one flood pulse and one generation of flood mosquitoes was noted. Culex pipiens c. breeding sites are various small human made bodies of water and small natural bodies of water. The year 2012 was dry and few specimens of this species were noted. During WNV outbreak in 2012 in Croatia the most probable vector was Culex pipiens c.