Bluetongue in Europe: past, present and future

Wilson, Anthony J.; Mellor, P. S.

doi:10.1098/rstb.2009.0091

Cited by 330 publications

(370 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In 2007, the BT situation changed for the worse, BTV8 spread to the other regions of Europe and the number of outbreaks increased rapidly (about 50000 cases of BT were reported). Additionally, two new BTV serotypes, BTV1 and BTV6, were detected (Wilson and Mellor 2009 -Zone H -BTV serotypes not specified, Malta, whole territory -Zone I -BTV1 and 4, Spain, provinces Huelva, Cadiz, Malaga, Sevilla and Portugal, region Algarve -Zone J -BTV1, Spain, whole territory (excl. zone I), Portugal, whole mainland territory (excl.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bluetongue in Europe and the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of disease

Niedbalski¹

2015

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bluetongue in Europe and the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of disease

Niedbalski¹

2015

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

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“…The inland spread of bluetongue virus-serotype 8 (BTV-8) across northwest Europe in 2006 [6] elicited a few studies on the relationship between wind and the epizootic [7] among a large body of literature on its epidemiological characteristics [8,9]. Apart from the wind, other factors may have contributed to the BTV-8 epizootic, such as random midge flight [10] and human transport of the virus, host and/or midges [11 -16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new algorithm quantifies the roles of wind and midge flight activity in the bluetongue epizootic in northwest Europe

et al. 2012

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The 2006 bluetongue (BT) outbreak in northwestern Europe had devastating effects on cattle and sheep in that intensively farmed area. The role of wind in disease spread, through its effect on Culicoides dispersal, is still uncertain, and remains unquantified. We examine here the relationship between farm-level infection dates and wind speed and direction within the framework of a novel model involving both mechanistic and stochastic steps. We consider wind as both a carrier of host semio-chemicals, to which midges might respond by upwind flight, and as a transporter of the midges themselves, in a more or less downwind direction. For completeness, we also consider midge movement independent of wind and various combinations of upwind, downwind and random movements. Using stochastic simulation, we are able to explain infection onset at 94 per cent of the 2025 affected farms. We conclude that 54 per cent of outbreaks occurred through (presumably midge) movement of infections over distances of no more than 5 km, 92 per cent over distances of no more than 31 km and only 2 per cent over any greater distances. The modal value for all infections combined is less than 1 km. Our analysis suggests that previous claims for a higher frequency of long-distance infections are unfounded. We suggest that many apparent long-distance infections resulted from sequences of shorter-range infections; a 'stepping stone' effect. Our analysis also found that downwind movement (the only sort so far considered in explanations of BT epidemics) is responsible for only 39 per cent of all infections, and highlights the effective contribution to disease spread of upwind midge movement, which accounted for 38 per cent of all infections. The importance of midge flight speed is also investigated. Within the same model framework, lower midge active flight speed (of 0.13 rather than 0.5 m s 21 ) reduced virtually to zero the role of upwind movement, mainly because modelled wind speeds in the area concerned were usually greater than such flight speed. Our analysis, therefore, highlights the need to improve our knowledge of midge flight speed in field situations, which is still very poorly understood. Finally, the model returned an intrinsic incubation period of 8 days, in accordance with the values reported in the literature. We argue that better understanding of the movement of infected insect vectors is an important ingredient in the management of future outbreaks of BT in Europe, and other devastating vector-borne diseases elsewhere.

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“…A case in point is the emergence of BT in Central Europe in 2006 in the absence of its known vectors, while in southern Europe, surveillance was focused on its known vector, Culicoides imicola (82,83). Entomological and epidemiological research, risk assessment and risk-based surveillance should therefore all go hand in hand, to help in accounting for uncertainties about vector competence and the possibility of 'new' vectors emerging (84,85,86).…”

Section: Surveillance and Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological surveillance methods for vector-borne diseases

Thompson¹,

Etter²

2015

Rev. Sci. Tech. OIE

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SummaryCompared with many other diseases, the ever-increasing threat of vectorborne diseases (VBDs) represents a great challenge to public and animal health managers. Complex life cycles, changing distribution ranges, a variety of potential vectors and hosts, and the possible role of reservoirs make surveillance for VBDs a grave concern in a changing environment with increasing economic constraints. Surveillance activities may have various specific objectives and may focus on clinical disease, pathogens, vectors, hosts and/or reservoirs, but ultimately such activities should improve our ability to predict, prevent and/or control the diseases concerned. This paper briefly reviews existing and newly developed tools for the surveillance of VBDs. A range of examples, by no means exhaustive, illustrates that VBD surveillance usually involves a combination of methods to achieve its aims, and is best accomplished when these techniques are adapted to the specific environment and constraints of the region. More so than any other diseases, VBDs respect no administrative boundaries; in addition, animal, human and commodity movements are increasing dramatically, with illegal or unknown movements difficult to quantify. Vector-borne disease surveillance therefore becomes a serious issue for local and national organisations and is being conducted more and more at the regional and international level through multidisciplinary networks. With economic and logistical constraints, tools for optimising and evaluating the performance of surveillance systems are essential and examples of recent developments in this area are included. The continuous development of mapping, analytical and modelling tools provides us with an enhanced ability to interpret, visualise and communicate surveillance results. This review also demonstrates the importance of the link between surveillance and research, with interactions and benefits in both directions.

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Bluetongue in Europe: past, present and future

Cited by 330 publications

References 48 publications

Bluetongue in Europe and the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of disease

Bluetongue in Europe and the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of disease

A new algorithm quantifies the roles of wind and midge flight activity in the bluetongue epizootic in northwest Europe

Epidemiological surveillance methods for vector-borne diseases

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