Estimating Hantavirus Risk in Southern Argentina: A GIS-Based Approach Combining Human Cases and Host Distribution
We use a Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) approach along with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to examine the potential distribution of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) caused by Andes virus (ANDV) in southern Argentina and, more precisely, define and estimate the area with the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/6/1/201 |
| _version_ | 1831747930439024640 |
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| author | Veronica Andreo Markus Neteler Duccio Rocchini Cecilia Provensal Silvana Levis Ximena Porcasi Annapaola Rizzoli Mario Lanfri Marcelo Scavuzzo Noemi Pini Delia Enria Jaime Polop |
| author_facet | Veronica Andreo Markus Neteler Duccio Rocchini Cecilia Provensal Silvana Levis Ximena Porcasi Annapaola Rizzoli Mario Lanfri Marcelo Scavuzzo Noemi Pini Delia Enria Jaime Polop |
| author_sort | Veronica Andreo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We use a Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) approach along with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to examine the potential distribution of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) caused by Andes virus (ANDV) in southern Argentina and, more precisely, define and estimate the area with the highest infection probability for humans, through the combination with the distribution map for the competent rodent host (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus). Sites with confirmed cases of HPS in the period 1995–2009 were mostly concentrated in a narrow strip (~90 km × 900 km) along the Andes range from northern Neuquén to central Chubut province. This area is characterized by high mean annual precipitation (~1,000 mm on average), but dry summers (less than 100 mm), very low percentages of bare soil (~10% on average) and low temperatures in the coldest month (minimum average temperature −1.5 °C), as compared to the HPS-free areas, features that coincide with sub-Antarctic forests and shrublands (especially those dominated by the invasive plant Rosa rubiginosa), where rodent host abundances and ANDV prevalences are known to be the highest. Through the combination of predictive distribution maps of the reservoir host and disease cases, we found that the area with the highest probability for HPS to occur overlaps only 28% with the most suitable habitat for O. longicaudatus. With this approach, we made a step forward in the understanding of the risk factors that need to be considered in the forecasting and mapping of risk at the regional/national scale. We propose the implementation and use of thematic maps, such as the one built here, as a basic tool allowing public health authorities to focus surveillance efforts and normally scarce resources for prevention and control actions in vast areas like southern Argentina. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T21:42:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ffa24d3f00249e8b29fbd315d5d0ee4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T21:42:35Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ffa24d3f00249e8b29fbd315d5d0ee42022-12-21T18:49:19ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152014-01-016120122210.3390/v6010201v6010201Estimating Hantavirus Risk in Southern Argentina: A GIS-Based Approach Combining Human Cases and Host DistributionVeronica Andreo0Markus Neteler1Duccio Rocchini2Cecilia Provensal3Silvana Levis4Ximena Porcasi5Annapaola Rizzoli6Mario Lanfri7Marcelo Scavuzzo8Noemi Pini9Delia Enria10Jaime Polop11Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich", Centro Espacial Teófilo Tabanera, CONAE, Ruta Provincial C45, Km 8, Falda del Carmen, Córdoba 5187, ArgentinaGIS and Remote Sensing Unit and Animal Ecology Unit, Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, San Michele all'Adige, Trento 38010, ItalyGIS and Remote Sensing Unit and Animal Ecology Unit, Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, San Michele all'Adige, Trento 38010, ItalyDepartamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta 36 Km 601, Agencia Postal N° 3, Río Cuarto, Córdoba 5800, ArgentinaInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas "Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui" (INEVH), Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino, Buenos Aires 2700, ArgentinaInstituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich", Centro Espacial Teófilo Tabanera, CONAE, Ruta Provincial C45, Km 8, Falda del Carmen, Córdoba 5187, ArgentinaGIS and Remote Sensing Unit and Animal Ecology Unit, Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, San Michele all'Adige, Trento 38010, ItalyInstituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich", Centro Espacial Teófilo Tabanera, CONAE, Ruta Provincial C45, Km 8, Falda del Carmen, Córdoba 5187, ArgentinaInstituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich", Centro Espacial Teófilo Tabanera, CONAE, Ruta Provincial C45, Km 8, Falda del Carmen, Córdoba 5187, ArgentinaInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas "Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui" (INEVH), Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino, Buenos Aires 2700, ArgentinaInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas "Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui" (INEVH), Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino, Buenos Aires 2700, ArgentinaDepartamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta 36 Km 601, Agencia Postal N° 3, Río Cuarto, Córdoba 5800, ArgentinaWe use a Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) approach along with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to examine the potential distribution of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) caused by Andes virus (ANDV) in southern Argentina and, more precisely, define and estimate the area with the highest infection probability for humans, through the combination with the distribution map for the competent rodent host (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus). Sites with confirmed cases of HPS in the period 1995–2009 were mostly concentrated in a narrow strip (~90 km × 900 km) along the Andes range from northern Neuquén to central Chubut province. This area is characterized by high mean annual precipitation (~1,000 mm on average), but dry summers (less than 100 mm), very low percentages of bare soil (~10% on average) and low temperatures in the coldest month (minimum average temperature −1.5 °C), as compared to the HPS-free areas, features that coincide with sub-Antarctic forests and shrublands (especially those dominated by the invasive plant Rosa rubiginosa), where rodent host abundances and ANDV prevalences are known to be the highest. Through the combination of predictive distribution maps of the reservoir host and disease cases, we found that the area with the highest probability for HPS to occur overlaps only 28% with the most suitable habitat for O. longicaudatus. With this approach, we made a step forward in the understanding of the risk factors that need to be considered in the forecasting and mapping of risk at the regional/national scale. We propose the implementation and use of thematic maps, such as the one built here, as a basic tool allowing public health authorities to focus surveillance efforts and normally scarce resources for prevention and control actions in vast areas like southern Argentina.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/6/1/201ArgentinaOligoryzomys longicaudatusAndes virus (ANDV)hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)Species Distribution Models (SDM)Geographic Information Systems (GIS)risk |
| spellingShingle | Veronica Andreo Markus Neteler Duccio Rocchini Cecilia Provensal Silvana Levis Ximena Porcasi Annapaola Rizzoli Mario Lanfri Marcelo Scavuzzo Noemi Pini Delia Enria Jaime Polop Estimating Hantavirus Risk in Southern Argentina: A GIS-Based Approach Combining Human Cases and Host Distribution Viruses Argentina Oligoryzomys longicaudatus Andes virus (ANDV) hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) Species Distribution Models (SDM) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) risk |
| title | Estimating Hantavirus Risk in Southern Argentina: A GIS-Based Approach Combining Human Cases and Host Distribution |
| title_full | Estimating Hantavirus Risk in Southern Argentina: A GIS-Based Approach Combining Human Cases and Host Distribution |
| title_fullStr | Estimating Hantavirus Risk in Southern Argentina: A GIS-Based Approach Combining Human Cases and Host Distribution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimating Hantavirus Risk in Southern Argentina: A GIS-Based Approach Combining Human Cases and Host Distribution |
| title_short | Estimating Hantavirus Risk in Southern Argentina: A GIS-Based Approach Combining Human Cases and Host Distribution |
| title_sort | estimating hantavirus risk in southern argentina a gis based approach combining human cases and host distribution |
| topic | Argentina Oligoryzomys longicaudatus Andes virus (ANDV) hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) Species Distribution Models (SDM) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) risk |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/6/1/201 |
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