title: A retrospective and geographical epidemiological survey of traumatic myiasis in southern Italy.
abstract: A survey on the prevalence and geographical distribution of traumatic myiasis in sheep, and the risk factors for the disease, was carried out in a region of southern Italy. A total of 138 sheep flocks were selected and visited to acquire data on the presence or absence of traumatic myiasis using both a questionnaire for retrospective analysis and animal inspection. Prevalences registered at the farm and animal levels, respectively, were 8.7% and 6.3% in 2010, and 5.8% and 5.0% in 2011. Records of the occurrence of the parasitic disease in this region are recent: a statistically significant (P < 0.01) progressive increase in the number of farms affected (from 0.7% to 8.7%) has been registered since 2007. Wohlfahrtiosis was found in 11 of 95 (11.6%) geographical units sampled and three significant (P < 0.05) clusters of spatial farm aggregation were identified in the southern part of the study area. A total of 158 presently uninfested farms were considered to be at high risk for transmission as a result of their proximity to infested farms. The spreading of Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in southern regions of Italy represents a warning that the risk for infestation may become more significant in other Italian regions, as well as other European countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE), University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giangaspero
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brianti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Traversa
authors.forename: M J R
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009198:Myiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: GIS; Italy; Wohlfahrtia magnifica; prevalence