Résumé
Introduction and Objectives : Blood feeding arthropods are involved in the transmission of several pathogens that have a major impacton public health. This study focused on entomological investigations highlighting the composition,abundance and diversity of flying hematophagous arthropods at four dog shelters (DS) located incentral Morocco with the aim of discussing their vectorial roles and assessing the risk of these sheltersas foci for zoonotic diseases.Material and Methods : Culicoides, mosquito and sandflies species composition was investigated in four DS (Sidi Yahya Zaer,Bouskoura, Fes and Khouribga) from 1 April to 30 November 2022. Culicoides were collected using OVI(Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute) traps. Mosquitoes were collected using BG-Pro mosquito trapscombined with a CO2 source as an attractant. Sandflies were sampled using castor oil on sticky papers(20 × 20 cm) disposed on walls inside the different DS. The traps and sticky papers were functional from6 pm to 10 am on two consecutive days every two weeks.Results : 2,321 biting midges, 575 mosquitoes and 475 sand flies were collected. Fourteen Culicoidesspecieswere recorded, with Culicoides imicola (55.96%), Culicoides paolae (16.07%), Culicoides circumscriptus(10.29%), and Culicoides newsteadi (5.77%) as the most abundant species, whereas three mosquitospecies were collected including Culex pipiens (96.84%), Culiseta longiareolata (2.80%), and Culexperexiguus (0.36%). Ten sand flies species were collected, i.e. seven Phlebotomus species (62.70%) andthree Sergentomyia species (37.30%). Sergentomyia minuta was the most dominant species (34.31%),followed by Phlebotomus sergenti (32.42%), Phlebotomus perniciosus (8.63%), Phlebotomus alexandri(6.94%), and Phlebotomus riouxi (6.52%).Discussion and Conclusion : within these findings, the coexistence of several vectors in these study areas indicates the potentialcirculation of a wide range of pathogens. Indeed, a study is underway on carried pathogens within thecollected vectors (stored at -80°) and in dogs from the four DS (n=234).