Geographical distribution modelling for Neospora caninum and Coxiella burnetii infections in dairy cattle farms in northeastern Spain

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 141; no. 1; pp. 81 - 90
• Main Authors: NOGAREDA, C., JUBERT, A., KANTZOURA, V., KOUAM, M. K., FEIDAS, H., THEODOROPOULOS, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Cambridge University Press 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Abortion; Animals; Antibodies; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - microbiology; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; Cluster Analysis; Coccidiosis - epidemiology; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Coxiella; Coxiella burnetii; Coxiella burnetii - isolation & purification; Dairy cattle; Dairy farms; Ecological modeling; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Infections; Land cover; Livestock farms; Manufacturers; Microbiology; Milk; Miscellaneous; Neospora - isolation & purification; Neospora caninum; Original Papers; Pathogens; Precipitation; Prevalence; Q Fever - epidemiology; Q Fever - veterinary; Risk Factors; Spain - epidemiology; Topographic databases; Topography, Medical; Variables; Veterinary medicine; Weather; Zoonoses and Animal Infections; Southern Europe; Europe; Spain; France; United States > US; Protozoa; Apicomplexa; Farming animal; Dairy cattle; Epidemiology; Modeling; Rickettsiales; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Neospora caninum; Bacteria; Artiodactyla; Rickettsieae; Coxiella burnetii; Rickettsiaceae; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268812000271

Maximum entropy ecological niche modelling and spatial scan statistic were utilized to predict the geographical range and to investigate clusters of infections for Neospora caninum and Coxiella burnetii in dairy cattle farms in Catalonia, northeastern Spain, using the Maxent and SaTScan programs, respectively. The geographical distribution of Neospora and Coxiella with the highest level of probability (P>0·60) covers central Catalonia and spreads towards northeastern Catalonia which contains a high concentration of dairy cattle farms. The most important environmental factor that contributed to the ecological niche modelling was precipitation of driest month followed by elevation. Significant clusters (P<0·001) were detected for Neospora and Coxiella infections in the western and eastern regions of Catalonia, respectively.