Survey of small rodents and hematophagous flies in three sentinel farms in a Costa Rican vesicular stomatitis endemic region.

A survey of rodents and hematophagous flies was conducted on three farms located in an area endemic for vesicular stomatitis to determine the species composition of each zoological group occurring in these areas. Eleven species of small rodents were collected and identified. Individuals from forty-nine species of hematophagous flies of the families Ceratopogonidae, Culicidae, and Phlebotominae were captured and identified. The species compositions in each group were compared between farms. Rodents were tested for antibodies to vesicular stomatitis, New Jersey and Indiana serotypes. Seven species had antibody titers greater than 1:10. Attempts to isolate the virus produced negative results for all the species tested.