Research Trends and Scientific Progress in Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Studies

Culicoides species are important in public health and veterinary medicine as biological vectors of various pathogens. These species play a role in the epidemiology of certain viral infections, particularly in farm animals, and cause economic losses. Additionally, they can trigger hypersensitivity reactions related to their blood-feeding activities. Therefore, monitoring the distribution, diversity, and population dynamics of Culicoides species is a critical component of vector control and surveillance efforts. This study subjected 290 scientific publications on Culicoides spp. from 1975 to 2025 to bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software. Using text mining and data visualization techniques, global research trends and thematic focuses related to these parasitic vectors were revealed. Research on Culicoides has demonstrated a strong growth trend that became apparent after 2009. While the main focus areas of the studies are Veterinary Sciences (34.8%) and Entomology (20.0%), the United States (28.3%) and various European countries dominate global research output. The field stands out for its publications in journals with high standards in terms of methodological rigor and academic impact, with an analysis of 290 articles receiving a total of 5849 citations supporting these findings. This study is the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis conducted on Culicoides spp. The most frequently used keyword is “Bluetongue virus,” the most researched field is veterinary science, and the most productive country is the United States. This analysis reveals global trends in Culicoides research, providing an important guide for future research directions.