The present paper reports the results Of a cross-sectional survey aimed Lit obtaining lip-to-date information oil the spatial distribution of different groups and/or species of helminths ill water buffaloes from central Italy. Geographical information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis were Used to plan the sampling, procedures, to display the results as maps and to detect Spatial clusters of helminths ill the study area. The survey Was conducted OF) 127 water buffalo farms, which were selected ill the study area using a grid sampling approach, followed by proportional allocation. Faecal samples (n. = 1,883) collected from the 127 farms were examined using the Flotac dual technique. Gastrointestinal strongyles were the most frequent helminths (33.1%) oil the tested farms, followed by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica (7.1%), the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi (7.1%,), the nematode Strongyloides spp. (3.1%), the lencet liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum (2.4%) and the tapeworm Moniezia spp. (2.4%). ill order to display the Spatial distribution Of the various helminths detected oil the water buffalo farms (used as epidemiological unit ill our study), point maps were drawn within the GIS. In addition, for each helminth, clustering of test-positive farms were investigated based oil location determined by exact coordinates. Using spatial Scan statistic, spatial clusters were found for the flukes F. hepatica and C. daubneyi and the cestode Moniezia spp.; these findings are consistent with the life cycle of these parasites, which have strong environmental determinants. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that, with the appropriate survey-based data at hand, GIS is a useful tool to study epidemiological patterns of infections ill veterinary health, in particular ill water buffaloes.
Helmintic infections in water buffaloes on Italian farms: a spatial analysis
Musella V;
2009-01-01
Abstract
The present paper reports the results Of a cross-sectional survey aimed Lit obtaining lip-to-date information oil the spatial distribution of different groups and/or species of helminths ill water buffaloes from central Italy. Geographical information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis were Used to plan the sampling, procedures, to display the results as maps and to detect Spatial clusters of helminths ill the study area. The survey Was conducted OF) 127 water buffalo farms, which were selected ill the study area using a grid sampling approach, followed by proportional allocation. Faecal samples (n. = 1,883) collected from the 127 farms were examined using the Flotac dual technique. Gastrointestinal strongyles were the most frequent helminths (33.1%) oil the tested farms, followed by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica (7.1%), the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi (7.1%,), the nematode Strongyloides spp. (3.1%), the lencet liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum (2.4%) and the tapeworm Moniezia spp. (2.4%). ill order to display the Spatial distribution Of the various helminths detected oil the water buffalo farms (used as epidemiological unit ill our study), point maps were drawn within the GIS. In addition, for each helminth, clustering of test-positive farms were investigated based oil location determined by exact coordinates. Using spatial Scan statistic, spatial clusters were found for the flukes F. hepatica and C. daubneyi and the cestode Moniezia spp.; these findings are consistent with the life cycle of these parasites, which have strong environmental determinants. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that, with the appropriate survey-based data at hand, GIS is a useful tool to study epidemiological patterns of infections ill veterinary health, in particular ill water buffaloes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
