English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Background  Vector-borne diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in humans and animals. In the Afrotropical region, some are transmitted by  Culicoides , such as Akabane, bluetongue, epizootic haemorrhagic fever and African horse sickness viruses.  Bluetongue virus  infection has an enormous impact on ruminant production, due to its high morbidity and mortality rates.    Methods  A nationwide  Culicoides  trapping campaign was organized at the end of the 2012 rainy season in Senegal. A Maximum Entropy approach (MaxEnt), Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) method and Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) were used to develop a predictive spatial model for the distribution of  Culicoides , using bio-climatic variables, livestock densities and altitude.    Results  The altitude, maximum temperature of the warmest month, precipitation of the warmest quarter, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, temperature seasonality, precipitation of the wettest quarter and livestock density were among the most important factors to predict suitable habitats of  Culicoides .  Culicoides  occurrences were, in most of the cases, positively correlated to precipitation variables and livestock densities; and negatively correlated to the altitude and temperature indices. The Niayes area and the  G roundnut basin were the most suitable habitats predicted.    Conclusion  We present ecological niche models for different  Culicoides  species, namely  C. imicola ,  C. oxystoma ,  C. enderleini  and  C. miombo , potential vectors of bluetongue virus, on a nationwide scale in Senegal. Through our modelling approach, we were able to determine the effect of bioclimatic variables on  Culicoides  habitats and were able to generate maps for the occurrence of  Culicoides  species. This information will be helpful in developing risk maps for disease outbreaks.

Ecological niche modelling to estimate the distribution of Culicoides, potential vectors of bluetongue virus in Senegal