Spatiotemporal analysis of foot and mouth disease outbreaks in cattle and small ruminants in Türkiye between 2010 and 2019.

Determining the dynamics associated with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks is important for being able to develop effective strategic plans against the disease. In this direction, spatiotemporal analysis of FMD virus (FMDV) epidemic data that occurred in Türkiye between 2010 and 2019 was carried out. Spatiotemporal analysis was performed by the space-time scan statistic using data from a total of 7,796 FMD outbreaks. Standard deviational ellipse analysis (SDE) was performed to analyse the directional trend of FMD. Five, six, and three significant and high-risk clusters were identified by the space-time cluster analysis for serotypes A, O, and Asia-1, respectively. The SDE analysis indicated that direction of FMD transmission was northeast to southwest. A significant decrease in the number of outbreaks and cases were observed between 2014 and 2019 compared to 2010-2013 (p = 0.010). Most of the serotype A, serotype O, and serotype Asia-1 associated FMD outbreaks were observed during the dry season (April to September). Among FMD cases, cattle and small ruminants accounted for 80.75% (180,932 cases) and 19.25% (43,116 cases), respectively. Among the serotypes detected in the cases, the most frequently detected serotype was serotype O (50.84%), followed by serotypes A (35.67%) and Asia-1 (13.49%). The results obtained in this study may contribute to when and where control programs could be implemented more efficiently for the prevention and control of FMD. Developing risk-defined regional control plans by taking into account the current livestock production including uncontrolled animal movements in border regions, rural livestock, livestock trade between provinces are recommended.

Spatiotemporal and seasonality analysis of sheep and goat pox (SGP) disease outbreaks in Turkey between 2010 and 2019.

Sheep and goat pox (SGP) is a highly infectious disease with a high case fatality rate. It causes serious economic losses and decreases productivity in infected facilities and contact areas. As in many countries of the world, SGP outbreaks reported from Turkey to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) continue to threaten animal health. Therefore, studies that will guide the production of effective policies to prevent and control SGP are extremely important. This study aims at evaluating the spatiotemporal distribution of SGP outbreaks by geographical information system (GIS)-based analyses. In accordance with this purpose, spatiotemporal scan analyses were applied to reveal the spatiotemporal distribution pattern and transmission of SGP outbreaks reported in Turkey between 2010 and 2019. Space-time cluster analysis revealed 4 several clusters, indicating geographic areas at the highest risk. Spatiotemporal clusters were 6 to 11 times more likely to be exposed to SGP than the general distribution. The average spatiotemporal density of outbreaks in clusters was estimated as 0.20 ± 0.07 outbreaks per 1000 km2 per month. Seasonal analysis and time series analysis showed similar findings. The seasonality of SGP was mainly defined in the winter (from December to February) when the seasonal adjusted factor (SAF) was at a peak of 504.6. In addition, February had the highest SAF with 7.1. Directional distribution analysis showed that the transmission of SGP was oriented between northeast (NE)-southwest (SW) and northwest (NW)-southeast (SE) and that distribution was changed every 2 years. These findings present a basis for the effective monitoring and prevention of SGP and provide valuable information to policymakers.

Accuracy assessment of UAV-post-processing kinematic (PPK) and UAV-traditional (with ground control points) georeferencing methods.

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in photogrammetric mapping/surveying facilities has increased recently due to the developments on photogrammetric instruments and algorithms that enhance high-quality final products (orthoimages, digital surface model-DSM, etc.) in fast, accurate, and economical way. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of a UAV-based post-processing kinematic (PPK) solution. To do that, two methods were implemented with PPK solution and georeferencing with ground control points (GCPs). According to the statistical results, root mean square error (RMSE) values obtained from the GCPs and PPK solutions in the horizontal component are 6.5 cm and 5.4 cm, respectively. The RMSE values in the vertical component (ellipsoidal heights) were obtained as 4.8 cm (GCPs) and 5.2 cm (PPK), respectively. The results show that UAV-PPK method can also be used to produce photogrammetric products where high accuracy (≤ 10 cm) is required without GCPs. In addition, the results obtained regarding the use of this method clearly show that it can be applied in many different fields such as agriculture, forestry, natural disasters, and geomatics.

Analysis of coastal changes using remote sensing and geographical information systems in the Gulf of Izmit, Turkey.

The shoreline is constantly under the influence of physical elements, such as geomorphological events, earthquakes, and tectonic movements. In recent years, it has been changing due to the intensive use of coasts and the impact of human factors on coastal areas. This study's aim was to analyze the coastal change in the Gulf of Izmit, Turkey, using satellite images from different dates. In this context, coastal changes were analyzed in a 95% confidence interval by the end point rate (EPR), linear regression rate (LRR), and weighted linear regression (WLR) statistical methods, after the automatic extraction of shorelines from Landsat satellite images of 17 periods belonging to different dates between 1975 and 2017 in four different scenarios. Furthermore, the effects of the destructive earthquake (Mw, 7.4), which caused the loss of many lives and property in the Gulf of Izmit on August 17, 1999, were also examined in detail.

A single-center large-volume experience in the surgical management of hydatid disease of the lung with and without extrapulmonary involvement.

BACKGROUND: We compared the number of incisions, surgical procedures, hospital duration, and complications in hydatid cyst patients with unilateral or bilateral thoracic involvement and concomitant involvement of the extrathoracic organs. METHODS: A total of 76 hydatid cyst cases surgically treated between the years 2007 and 2012 were divided into three groups according to radiological evidence of other organ involvement and surgical procedures: group 1 had only unilateral thoracic involvement and a single incision; group 2 had additional involvement of the contralateral thoracic side or extrathoracic organs and at most two incisions were performed at the same session; and group 3 had two or more incisions performed at separate sessions in addition to the involvement features of group 2. RESULTS: We had 46 (60.5 %) cases with only thoracic involvement and 30 others (39.5 %) with extrathoracic organ involvement. Complications were seen in only one patient each in the first and second groups, and in 6 patients in the third group. Duration of hospital stay was 7.04 ± 0.86 (5-9) days in group 1.8.33 ± 1.87 (7-13) days in group 2, and 13.95 ± 2.03 (9-18) days in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Although multiple session surgery is used to decrease the risk of complications, contamination, and infection in multiple or bilateral pulmonary hydatid cyst cases, or in patients with other organ involvement, single-session surgery can be used in selected cases taking into account the operative trauma, financial consequences, and psychological profile.