Bluetongue surveillance in the Campania Region of Italy using a geographic information system to create risk maps.
The aim of the project was the implementation of a geographic information system (GIS) to study areas of the Campania Region that are potentially at risk for bluetongue (BT) infection. As a first step, environmental, meteorological and climatic features were surveyed to evaluate areas where Culicoides could be present. A risk map was developed and five zones with different risk levels were defined. Data from Culicoides trapping were surveyed to evaluate the capability of the risk map to predict presence/absence of vectors. Finally, data from 2002 BT surveillance (outbreaks and serologically positive sentinels [SPS]) were compared to the map. Captures of Culicoides, SPS and BT in areas the map indicated as a medium/high risk level, seem to confirm reliability of the produced map. However, very few C. imicola were captured in these medium/high risk areas.
Caligiuri
V
V
Osservatorio Epidemiologico Veterinario Regione Campania, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute 2, Portici, Italy.
Giuliano
C A
CA
Vitale
V
V
Chiavacci
L
L
Travaglio
S
S
Manelli
L
L
Piscedda
S
S
Giardina
M
M
Mainolfi
R
R