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Identification of Suitable Areas for African Horse Sickness Virus Infections in Spanish Equine Populations

Investigation published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

October 1st, 2016

African horse sickness (AHS) is one of the most important vector-borne viral infectious diseases of equines, transmitted mainly by Culicoides spp. The re-emergence of Culicoides-borne diseases in Europe, such as the recent bluetongue (BT) or Schmallenberg outbreaks, has raised concern about the potential re-introduction and further spread of AHS virus (AHSV) in Europe. Spain has one
of the largest European equine populations. In addition, its geographical, environmental and entomological conditions favour AHSV infections, as shown by the historical outbreaks in the 1990s. The establishment of risk-based surveillance strategies
would allow the early detection and rapid control of any potential AHSV outbreak.
This study aimed to identify the areas and time periods that are suitable or at high risk for AHS occurrence in Spain using a GIS-based multicriteria decision framework.
Specifically risk maps for AHS occurrence were produced using a weighted linear combination of the main risk factors of disease, namely extrinsic incubation period, equine density and distribution of competent Culicoides populations. Model
results revealed that the south-western and north-central areas of Spain and the Balearic Islands are the areas at the highest risk for AHSV infections, particularly in late summer months. Conversely, Galicia, Castile and Leon and La Rioja can be considered as low-risk regions. This result was validated with historical AHS and BT outbreaks in Spain, and with the Culicoides vector distribution area. The model results, together with current Spanish equine production features, should provide the foundations to design risk-based and more cost-effective surveillance strategies for the early detection and rapid control potential of AHS outbreaks in Spain




Sanchez-Matamoros A., Sanchez-Vizcaino JM., Rodriguez-Prieto V., Iglesias E. and Martinez-Lopez B.




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Identification of Suitable Areas for African Horse Sickness Virus Infections in Spanish Equine Populations

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Identification of Suitable Areas for African Horse Sickness Virus Infections in Spanish Equine Populations



Participants:

Universidad ComplutenseServicio de Inmunología Viral y Medicina Preventiva (SUAT). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM).

Universidad ComplutenseDepartamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM).

CEI Campus MoncloaCEI Campus Moncloa.

Universidad Politécnica de MadridEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM).

University of California-DavisUniversity of California-Davis (UCDAVIS).







Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
FACTOR YEAR Q
3.585 2016

NLMID: 101319538

PMID: 25476549

ISSN: 1865-1674



TITLE: Identification of Suitable Areas for African Horse Sickness Virus Infections in Spanish Equine Populations


JOURNAL: Transbound Emerg Dis


NUMERACIÓN: 63(5):564-73


AÑO: 2016


PUBLISHER: Wiley


AUTHORS: Sanchez-Matamoros A., Sanchez-Vizcaino JM., Rodriguez-Prieto V., Iglesias E. and Martinez-Lopez B.


José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno Rodríguez

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12302


CITE THIS PUBLICATION:

Sanchez-Matamoros A., Sanchez-Vizcaino JM., Rodriguez-Prieto V., Iglesias E. and Martinez-Lopez B. Identification of Suitable Areas for African Horse Sickness Virus Infections in Spanish Equine Populations. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 63(5):564-73. 2016. (A). ISSN: 1865-1674. DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12302


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