Spread of Toxoplasma gondii among animals and humans in Northern Italy: A retrospective analysis in a One-Health framework.

Toxoplasmosis occurs worldwide and is considered one of the most important food-borne parasitic zoonoses. The consumption of undercooked meat containing viable tissue cysts and ingestion of environmental oocyst are the most important sources of infection. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the spread of Toxoplasma gondii in the province of Bologna (Emilia-Romagna region) in northern Italy, with a One Health approach, comparing seropositivity rates in different animal species and in humans over the last 19 and 4 years respectively. Analyses were performed on serological data collected over different periods at three separate locations: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e della Emilia-Romagna (IZSLER); Veterinary University Hospital Clinical Pathology Service, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna; and Unit of Microbiology, St. Orsola Hospital, Bologna. Most relevant seropositivity rates observed in animals were 15.5% (wild boar), 25% (roe deer), 18.7% (goat), 29.9% (sheep), 9.7% (pigs), 42.9% and 21.8% in cat and dog, respectively. A comprehensive screening was conducted on a population of 36,814 individuals, revealing a prevalence of 20.4%. Among pregnant women, a frequence of 0.39% for active toxoplasmosis was observed. Despite certain limitations, this study provided valuable insights into the extensive distribution of this parasitic infection among diverse animal species and human populations in the province of Bologna. These findings underscore the importance of implementing consistent and proactive toxoplasmosis screening protocols during pregnancy, while emphasizing the critical need for adopting a One Health approach for effective control of this parasitic disease.

E-health. Patterns of use and perceived benefits and barriers among people living with HIV and their physicians. Part 2: Health apps and smart devices.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patterns of use and perceived benefits and barriers to health/wellness applications (apps) and smart devices among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their physicians. METHODS: Online multicenter observational survey (October 15-19, 2018). RESULTS: Study participation was accepted by 229 physicians and 838/1377 PLHIV followed in 46 centers, of which 325 (39%) responded online. Overall, 83/288 (29%) PLHIV had already downloaded at least one app: these 'downloaders' were younger (OR0.96±0.01, P=0.004), educated to at least university entry level (OR2.27±0.86, P=0.03), and more frequently used geolocation-based dating websites (OR3.00±1.09, P=0.002). However, 227/314 (72%) PLHIV claimed they were ready to use an app recommended by a physician. For the 60/83 PLHIV who answered, the ideal app would be a vaccination tracker (76%) to better communicate with their physician (68%). However, 96/277 (42%) physicians were unable to answer this question and for 94/227 (41%) of them, the ideal patient app would be for schedule management. Although PLHIV used smart devices, 231/306 (75%) would want to report the data to their physicians and 137/225 (61%) of physicians would welcome this exchange. The main physician-side barrier to this exchange was concerns over data security. CONCLUSION: mHealth apps and smart devices have failed to garner adoption by PLHIV. There is a case for good-quality health data sharing and exchange if PLHIV are provided with appropriately secure tools and physicians are backed up by adapted legislation.

E-health. Patterns of use and perceived benefits and barriers among people living with HIV and their physicians. Part 1: Information retrieval on the Internet and social networks.

OBJECTIVES: To identify patterns of use, perceived benefits, and barriers among people living with HIV (PLHIV) of online searches for health information and via social media. METHODS: Online multicentre observational survey (October 15th-19th, 2018). RESULTS: Study participation was accepted by 838/1377 PLHIV followed in 46 centres, of which 325 (39%) responded online: 181 (56%) had already used the Internet to search for health information; 88/181 (49%) on HIV infection and 78 (43%) on nutrition. These 56% were characterised by a higher educational level (OR=1.82±0.50; P=0.028) and more often consulted other specialists (OR=3.14±1.26; P=0.004). A subset of 87/180 (48%) PLHIV had changed the way they looked after their health based on their online research, and were more often in material/social deprivation (P=0.02) and diabetic (P=0.02). A small subset of 19/180 (11%) had already asked or answered a question on a forum; these people tended to be women (P=0.03) in material/social deprivation (P=0.009). 296/322 (92%) PLHIV trusted their physician whereas only 206 (64%) trusted information sourced on medical websites. 238/323 (74%) PLHIV expected their physicians to recommend websites if asked, whereas only 23/323 (7%) had actually been given this guidance. CONCLUSION: More than half of PLHIV surveyed had already searched for health information on the Internet, and one in two had changed their behaviour based on the online search. PLHIV did not see the Internet as an alternative to physicians but they wanted their physicians to guide them on how to find quality health information to better self-manage their condition.

E-health. Patterns of use and perceived benefits and barriers among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their physicians - Part 3: Telemedicine and collection of computerized personal information.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the patterns of use and perceived benefits and barriers among people living with HIV and their physicians concerning telemedicine and the collection of computerized personal information. METHODS: Multicenter online observational survey from October 15 to 19, 2018. RESULTS: Study participation was accepted by 229 physicians and 838/1,377 PLHIV followed in 46 centers, of which 325 (39%) responded online. We found that while 226/302 (75%) PLHIV accept online prescription renewals and 197/302 (65%) accept online medical certificates, 182/302 (60%) PLHIV-who were more often in material/social deprivation (OR=1.70±0.45; P=0.045), less often born in Île-de-France (OR=0.43±0.15; P=0.018), with lower CD4 T-cell counts (OR=0.999±0.0004; P=0.038), and less often on psychiatric treatment (OR=0.50±0.18; P=0.047)-were receptive to teleconsultations. However, 137/225 (61%) physicians would be uncomfortable teleconsulting due to inadequate data security without it reducing the number of consultations or offering economic benefit. Asked about collection of computerized personal information, 197/296 (67%) PLHIV and 139/223 (62%) physicians agreed it improved quality of care, but 144 (49%) PLHIV and 94/222 (42%) physicians thought it was not sufficiently framed by the law. eHealth was seen as improving coordination between health professionals by 240/296 (81%) PLHIV and seen as a good thing by 181/225 (81%) physicians. CONCLUSION: More than half of PLHIV were ready for telemedicine. PLHIV and physicians endorsed the advantage of e-health in terms of better coordination across health professionals but mistrust the data collection factor, which warrants either clarification or stronger legal protections.

Implementing a tele-expertise system to optimise the antibiotic use and stewardship: The case of the Montpellier University Hospital (France).

This paper has two aims: 1) to describe the tele-expertise system implemented in the Montpellier University Hospital (France) in order to optimize antimicrobial use 2) to analyze the prescribers' adherence to this system. For the second purpose, an observational prospective study was conducted for 12 months. Data were collected from counselling advices, which were notified in the electronic medical records. 1386 tele-expertise actions were performed. Among them, 87% were made without clinical evaluation at the bedside. The prescribers' adherence rate to a diagnosis was 79%. For the therapeutic requests, 87% of answers were fully followed. The results outline how the tele-expertise system enables both infectious disease specialists and prescribers to make better decisions in particular cases.

Understanding the Perceived Usefulness and the Ease of Use of a Hospital Information System: the case of a French University Hospital.

The goal of this study was to examine the perceived usefulness and the perceived ease of use of a Hospital Information System (HIS) for the care staff. We administrated a questionnaire composed of open-end and closed questions. As results, the perceived usefulness and ease of use are correlated with medical occupations. Content analysis of open questions highlights three factors influencing these constructs: ergonomics, errors in the documenting process and insufficient compatibility with the medical department or the occupation. While the results are consistent with literature, they show medical occupations do not report the same low rate of perceived usefulness and of ease of use. The main explanation consists in the medical risk in the prescription process for anesthesiologists, surgeons and physicians.

Understanding the acceptance factors of an Hospital Information System: evidence from a French University Hospital.

The goal of this study was to examine the perceived usefulness, the perceived ease of use and the perceived behavioral control of a Hospital Information System (HIS) for the care staff. We administrated a questionnaire composed of open-end and closed questions, based on the main concepts of Technology Acceptance Model. As results, the perceived usefulness, ease of use and behavioral control (self-efficacy and organizational support) are correlated with medical occupations. As an example, we found that a half of the medical secretaries consider the HIS is ease of use, at the opposite to the anesthesiologists, surgeons and physicians. Medical secretaries reported also the highest rate of PBC and a high rate of PU. Pharmacists reported the highest rate of PU but a low rate of PBC, which is similar to the rate of the surgeons and physicians. Content analysis of open questions highlights factors influencing these constructs: ergonomics, errors in the documenting process, insufficient compatibility with the medical department or the occupational group. Consequently, we suggest that the gap between the perceptions of the different occupational groups may be explained by the use of different modules and by interdependency of the care stare staff.

Evaluation of a novel closed-loop total intravenous anaesthesia drug delivery system: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: We have developed an automatic anaesthesia system for closed-loop administration of anaesthesia drugs. The control variables used were bispectral index (BIS) and Analgoscore for hypnosis and antinociception, respectively. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-six patients were randomly enrolled in two groups. Propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium were administered using closed-loop feedback control (closed-loop, n = 93) or manually (control group, n = 93). The clinical performance of hypnosis control was determined by calculating the offset from a BIS of 45: 'excellent', 'good', 'poor', and 'inadequate' control was defined as BIS values within 10%, from 11% to 20%, from 21% to 30%, or >30% offset from the target. The clinical performance of analgesia was defined as the offset from Analgoscore values. Data presented as mean (standard deviation) (95% confidence interval). RESULTS: Excellent or good control of hypnosis was achieved significantly longer in the closed-loop group [47.0 (9.8%) (45.0/49.0), 34.4 (4.7%) (33.5/35.4)] than in the control group [37.3 (14.3%) (34.4/40.2) and 32.3 (7.6%) (30.7/33.7)], respectively (P<0.0001 and 0.0085). Poor and inadequate control of hypnosis was significantly shorter in the closed-loop group [10.8 (5.0%) (9.8/11.8) and 7.7 (6.2%) (6.4/9.0)] than in the control group [14.7 (6.8%) (13.3/16.0) and 15.8 (14.7%) (12.8/18.8)], respectively (P<0.0001). Excellent control of analgesia was achieved significantly longer in the closed-loop group [78.7 (16.2%) (75.4/82.0)] than in the control group [73.7 (17.8%) (70.1/77.3)] (P=0.0456). CONCLUSIONS: The closed-loop system was better at maintaining BIS and Analgoscore than manual administration.

First robotic tracheal intubations in humans using the Kepler intubation system.

BACKGROUND: Intubation is one of the most important anaesthetic skills. We developed a robotic intubation system (Kepler intubation system, KIS) for oral tracheal intubation. METHODS: In this pilot study, 12 patients were enrolled after approval of the local Ethics board and written informed consent. The KIS consists of four main components: a ThrustMaster T.Flight Hotas X joystick (Guillemot Inc., New York, NY, USA), a JACO robotic arm (Kinova Rehab, Montreal, QC, Canada), a Pentax AWS video laryngoscope (Ambu A/S, Ballerup, Denmark), and a software control system. The joystick allows simulation of the wrist or arm movements of a human operator. The success rate of intubation and intubation times were measured. RESULTS: Eleven men and one woman aged 66 yr were included in this study. Intubation was successful in all but one patient using KIS at a total time of [median (inter-quartile range; range)] 93 (87, 109; 76, 153) s; in one patient, fogging of the video laryngoscope prevented intubation using KIS. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first human testing of a robotic intubation system for oral tracheal intubation. The success rate was high at 91%. Future studies are needed to assess the performance and safety of such a system.

Reduced cerebral oxygen saturation during thoracic surgery predicts early postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this prospective study is to determine cognitive dysfunction after thoracic surgery. METHODS: Seventy-six patients undergoing thoracic surgery with single-lung ventilation (SLV) of an expected duration of >45 min were enrolled. Monitoring consisted of standard clinical parameters and absolute oximetry (S(ct)O(2)). The Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) test was used to assess cognitive function before operation and at 3 and 24 h after operation. Data were analysed using Spearman correlation test; risks for cognitive dysfunction were expressed as odds ratios. P<0.05 and data are presented as median (interquartile range). RESULTS: One patient was excluded from the study. S(ct)O(2) during SLV decreased to critical values of <65%, 60%, and 55% in 40 (53%), 15 (20%), and 5 patients (7%), respectively. Twenty-two patients (29%) had a decrease of MMSE>2 points 3 h after surgery, eight patients (10%) had a decrease of MMSE>2 points 24 h after surgery. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction correlated at r(2)=0.272, 0.285, 0.297 with patient exposure times to S(ct)O(2)<65% (P=0.018), <60% (P=0.013), <55% (P=0.010), respectively. The odds ratios of developing early cognitive dysfunction ranged from 2.03 (95% CI: 0.74-5.59) for a short (<5 min) exposure to S(ct)O(2)<65% to a maximum of 9.56 (95% CI: 1.75-52.13) when S(ct)O(2) was <60% for more than 30 min. CONCLUSIONS: Early cognitive dysfunction after thoracic surgery with SLV is positively related to intraoperative decline of S(ct)O(2).

Influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus outbreak in a cat colony in Italy.

In April 2009, a novel H1N1 influenza A virus (pH1N1) was recognized as the cause of the flu pandemic in humans. Here, we report the isolation of pH1N1 virus from the lung homogenates of two cats, which died after severe respiratory symptoms. The cats belonged to a cat colony consisting of 90 caged cats and were found dead following a 2-week period of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in the colony. During the outbreak, 25 cats died and 50% of the animal colony showed anorexia, depression, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. Histological examination of the lungs of the two tested cats displayed lesions centred on terminal airways with epithelial bronchiolar hyperplasia and alveolar necrosis. Influenza A virus was detected in the lung tissues by immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR). Partial sequences of haemagglutinin (HA) genes and complete sequences of neuraminidase (NA) genes of the two isolates displayed high similarity to the pH1N1 viruses circulating in humans (99% for HA gene and 100% for NA gene). To determine whether the pandemic virus had circulated among cats, serum samples and pharyngeal swabs were collected from 38 cats of the colony. Serum samples were tested by ELISA to detect antibodies against pH1N1 nucleoprotein and by hemagglutination-inhibition test, while pharyngeal swabs were examined by pH1N1 specific rRT-PCR. Twenty-one (55%) of the tested cats carried antibodies against the isolated strain and two swabs were positive for the presence of pH1N1 RNA. Our results confirm that the pH1N1 virus was able to infect cats and raise the hypothesis of the circulation of the virus within the colony being due to cat-to-cat transmission. The case reported here provides, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the first description of the pH1N1 infection involving numerous cats that lived in a restricted area with limited contact with humans.

Mycobacterium porcinum strains isolated from bovine bulk milk: implications for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis detection by PCR and culture.

In this study, the isolation of 52 mycobactin-independent fast growing mycobacteria from 631 bulk milk samples (8.2%), is reported. These strains, isolated during a bulk milk survey for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), strongly affected Map detection both by PCR and by culture, as they gave a positive IS900 PCR signal and resulted to totally inhibit the growth of Map when spotted on HEYM slants already inoculated with 200 microl of 10-fold dilutions containing from 5 x 10 to 5 x 10(3)Map cells/ml. 16S rRNA gene sequencing, using the MicroSeq 500 16S rDNA Bacterial Sequencing Kit (Applied Biosystems), was performed on a subset of six strains, identifying Mycobacterium porcinum with 100% homology in all six cases. The 52 strains were characterized by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the hsp65 gene, which confirmed the identification of M. porcinum for all the isolates. Using specific primers designed on the Map-IS900 sequence and on the M. porcinum sequence determined in this study, a 1385bp sequence from the M. porcinum genome was characterized. This IS900-like sequence showed 82% homology with Map IS900. From our findings the following results emerged: (a) any culture showing one or more M. porcinum colonies represents a potential "false negative" result and should therefore be considered as contaminated; (b) IS900-like elements could be more widespread than was previously thought; (c) IS900 PCR positive results should be interpreted cautiously, as confirmed by the evidence that the primer pair used in this study resulted not to be specific.

Advances in satellite remote sensing of pheno-climatic features for epidemiological applications.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies are being used increasingly to study the spatial and temporal patterns of diseases. They can be used to complement conventional ecological monitoring and modelling techniques, and provide a means to portray complex relationships in the ecology of diseases with strong environmental determinants. In particular, satellite technology has been extraordinarily improved during recent years, providing new parameters useful to understand the epidemiology of parasites, such as vegetation indices, land surface temperatures, soil moisture and rainfall indices. In the present review, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is primarily considered, since it is the index characterizing vegetation that is most used in epidemiological studies. Multi-temporal study of RS data allows collection of bio-climatic information about risk area distribution, along with predictive studies and anticipatory models of diseases, at different geographic scales ranging from global to local. The main physical and technological basis of a mathematical model, effective at different scales, for identification of landscape pheno-climatic features is described in the current paper.

A classification model of grazing areas in southern Italy using Remote Sensing data.

Detection of vegetation typologies is of particular interest in epidemiological studies on animal diseases. This paper is focused on the automatic detection of grazing areas in southern Italy browsed by equines, oxen and sheep, mostly sedentary, with many in fenced areas for overnight stays. Results revealed Satellite Remote Sensing was an indispensable tool in area surveys for vegetation cover characterization. Our classification model shows an accuracy level of 90.21% and a precision of 92.69%. Results suggest similar application protocols can be used in areas with different vegetation cover to characterizing potential infection risk areas for geohelminths and other diseases.

Neospora caninum in pastured cattle: determination of climatic, environmental, farm management and individual animal risk factors using remote sensing and geographical information systems.

A cross-sectional serological survey was conducted on cattle pasturing in an area of the southern Italian Apennines to evaluate the seroprevalence to Neospora caninum, and to investigate the climatic, environmental, farm management, and individual animal factors that influence the distribution of this protozoan. Blood samples were collected from 864 pastured cattle raised on 81 farms. Serum samples were tested for antibodies to N. caninum using an ELISA assay (HerdCheck), IDEXX). A geographical information system (GIS) for the study area was constructed using the following remote sensing (RS) and landscape feature data: autumn-winter, spring and summer normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land cover, elevation, slope, aspect, mean rainfall and minimum, mean, and maximum temperature in spring, summer, autumn and winter. Data on each of these features were then extracted for "buffer zones" consisting of the area included in a circle of 3 km diameter centered on the 81 geo-referenced centroids of the main cattle pastures. Climatic and environmental data obtained from RS and GIS and individual animal characteristics and farm management data obtained from a questionnaire were analyzed in relation to N. caninum seropositivity and antibody titres both by linear and logistic regression models. Out of the 81 farms sampled, 63 (77.8%) had at least one tested animal positive for N. caninum. Out of the 864 bovine sera samples, 266 (30.8%) were found to have antibodies to N. caninum. The results of the logistic regression model show that significantly high seroprevalence to N. caninum was found in heifers/steers and adults, in cattle raised on farms having a large number of dogs, and in cattle raised in buffer zones having high minimum temperatures in the spring, and a narrow extension of summer NDVI. In addition, positive linear correlations were found between N. caninum antibody titres and the number of dogs on farm, and the minimum temperature in spring. All the above determined risk factors for N. caninum seroprevalence indicate that horizontal infection resulting from the ingestion of oocysts shed by dogs is the most probable route of N. caninum infection in pastured cattle of the southern Italian Apennines.

[Pheno-climatic profiles of vegetation based on multitemporal analysis of satellite data]. / Profili feno-climatici della vegetazione mediante analisi multitemporale di dati telerilevati.

Satellite Remote Sensing offers numerous advantages: study of large areas in a short time, study of areas with not easy accessibility, synoptic observation of territory, multitemporal observations of the same area, monitoring land modifications and change detection studies. The effectiveness of using satellite images for studying and mapping vegetation and land use has been stressed since the early 1980s. The photosynthetically active vegetation presents a very characteristic spectral response. In fact, leaves absorb red radiation (RED) in order to do photosynthetic process and reflect almost completely near infrared (NIR) wavelengths. The most diffused index for quantifying photosynthetically active biomass is the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index): NDVI = (NIR-RED)/(NIR+RED). The NDVI is calculated, for each pixel of the images analysed, through an appropriate software. Low values of NDVI correspond to scarcely vegetated areas, while high values indicate densely vegetated ones. In order to distinguish among vegetation typologies we need some images of the same territory, well distributed during the year, showing seasonal variations of vegetation photosynthetic activity. Then it will be e.g. very easy distinguish between evergreen species (with NDVI almost steady during the year) and deciduous ones. Several types of sensors aboard some satellites allow different investigations to be done. AVHRR sensor on NOAA and TM sensor on Landsat are among the best known sensors available. They have different characteristics as for spectral resolution (number of spectral bands), spatial resolution (size of each elementary cell) and temporal resolution (the period of the satellite passes on the same territory). Vegetation phenology (including biomass and photosynthetic activity) heavily depends on climatic factors. The most important are: solar radiance, with an annual cycle and maximum at summer solstice; air temperature, (depending on solar radiance) with an annual cycle and maximum more than one month later; water availability, which is strongly dependent on rainfalls; in the Mediterranean area they can have an annual cycle (maximum during winter) or a six-monthly one (maxima near the equinoxes). Having a set of multitemporal satellite data (e.g. 12 monthly NOAA-AVHRR images) we can use a mathematical model able to discriminate annual and six-monthly cycles. Through Fourier analysis, the mathematical model calculate, for each pixel of the image, the parameters of the annual NDVI profile and create a synthetic image (pheno-climatic map), in which the values of the three RGB components (Red, Green, Blue ) are proportional to the integral of the NDVI profile for the following three periods: B=Nov-Feb G=Mar-Jun R=Jul-Oct. A similarly analysis is possible with Landsat satellite data, which have a higher spatial resolution, given that some shrewdness are taken. In fact, it is necessary to select satellite images according to the presence of cloud cover, which is--over the Italian peninsula--quite common during the March-April and October-November intervals. The purpose of carrying out pheno-climatic maps can be accomplished using 6 Landsat-TM images well-distributed during a year, every two months, even if the images have been taken during different years.

[Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing technologies in parasitological epidemiology]. / I GIS (Geographical Information Systems) e la tecnologia satellitare nella epidemiologia delle parassitosi.

Parasites have natural habitats in the same way as a species: they are found in focal areas where the spatial distribution of the parasite, host, vector and required environmental conditions coincide. The spatial distribution of parasites is, therefore, a function of the interaction between abiotic and biotic environmental factors. The boundaries of distributions are not strictly fixed in space and time and may fluctuate with climate and other components of the environment or anthropical factors. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies are being used increasingly to study the spatial and temporal patterns of disease. GIS can be used to complement conventional ecological monitoring and modelling techniques, and provide means to portray complex relationships in the ecology of disease. In addition, the use of GIS and RS to identify environmental features allows determination of risk factors and delimitation of areas at risk, permitting more rational allocation of resources for cost-effective control. Since 1996, GIS have been used in our territorial cross-sectional and longitudinal parasitological surveys in order to experiment new applications to plan sampling protocols and to display quickly, clearly, and analytically the spatial and/or temporal distribution of parasitological data. The use of GIS allowed us to draw the following types of descriptive parasitological maps: distribution maps, distribution maps with proportioned peaks, choroplethic maps with proportioned peaks, point distribution maps and point distribution maps with proportioned peaks. In a recent study, GIS and RS technologies have been used also to identify environmental features that influence the distribution of paramphistomosis in sheep from the southern Italian Apennines and to develop a preliminary risk assessment model. A GIS was constructed using RS and landscape feature data together with paramphistome positive survey records from 197 georeferenced ovine farms with animals pasturing in an area of the southern Italian Apennines. The GIS for the study area was constructed utilizing the following environmental variables: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land cover, elevation, slope, aspect, and total length of rivers. In addition, data regarding the presence of watercourses smaller than rivers, namely, streams, springs and brooks were recorded in the field. All these variables were then calculated for "buffer zones" consisting of the areas included in a circle of 3 Km diameter centred on 197 farms. The environmental data obtained were analyzed by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses using the paramphistome farm coprological status (positive/negative) as the dependent variable. A multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis model was developed that included moors and heathland, sclerophyllus and coniferous forest vegetation, autumn-winter NDVI and presence of streams, springs and brooks on pasture. The variables entered in the model are consistent with the environmental requirements of paramphistomes and their snail intermediate host. In particular, the land cover types entered in the model in this area are indicators of marginal uncultivable and sloping zones where typically there is the presence of water (permanently or temporarily). In addition, since NDVI can be used as an indicator of regional thermal-moisture regime, the distribution of farms positive for paramphistomosis corresponding to relatively high values of winter NDVI indicated the presence of adequate moisture and temperatures favourable to the rumen fluke and the snails. In conclusion, GIS and RS are useful to define the habitats of parasites, especially for those with strong environmental determinants, and to produce forecasting maps requested for the planning and the monitoring of control strategies on small and large scale.

Use of remote sensing and geographical information systems to identify environmental features that influence the distribution of paramphistomosis in sheep from the southern Italian Apennines.

A geographic information system (GIS) was constructed using remote sensing (RS) and landscape feature data together with Calicophoron daubneyi positive survey records from 197 georeferenced ovine farms with animals pasturing in a 3971 km(2) area of the southern Italian Apennines. The objective was to study the spatial distribution of this rumen fluke, identify environmental features that influence its distribution, and develop a preliminary risk assessment model. The GIS for the study area was constructed utilizing the following environmental variables: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land cover, elevation, slope, aspect, and total length of rivers. These variables were then calculated for "buffer zones" consisting of the areas included in a circle of 3 km diameter centered on 197 farms. The environmental data obtained from GIS and RS and from data taken by the veterinarians on the field (stocking rate and presence of streams, springs and brooks on pasture) were analyzed by univariate (Spearman and ANOVA) and multivariate (discriminant) statistical analyses using the farm coprological status (positive/negative) as the dependent variable. Sheep on 32 of the 197 (16.2%) farms, were positive for C. daubneyi, with an average intensity of 52 epg. A multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis model was developed that included moors and heathland, sclerophyllous and coniferous forest vegetation, autumn-winter NDVI and presence of streams, springs and brooks on pasture. The variables entered in the model were also correlated with C. daubneyi positive farms in the univariate tests and are consistent with the environmental requirements of C. daubneyi and its snail intermediate host.