Modelling the monthly abundance of Culicoides biting midges in nine European countries using Random Forests machine learning.

Journal: Parasites & vectors
PMID: 32295627

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Culicoides biting midges transmit viruses resulting in disease in ruminants and equids such as bluetongue, Schmallenberg disease and African horse sickness. In the past decades, these diseases have led to important economic losses for farmers in Europe. Vector abundance is a key factor in determining the risk of vector-borne disease spread and it is, therefore, important to predict the abundance of Culicoides species involved in the transmission of these pathogens. The objectives of this study were to model and map the monthly abundances of Culicoides in Europe.

Authors

  • Ana Carolina Cuéllar
    Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark. anacarocuellar@gmail.com.
  • Lene Jung Kjær
    Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark.
  • Andreas Baum
    Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark.
  • Anders Stockmarr
    Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark.
  • Henrik Skovgard
    Department of Agroecology - Entomology and Plant Pathology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
  • Søren Achim Nielsen
    Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark.
  • Mats Gunnar Andersson
    National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden.
  • Anders Lindström
    National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden.
  • Jan Chirico
    National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden.
  • Renke Lühken
    Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Sonja Steinke
    Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany.
  • Ellen Kiel
    Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany.
  • Jörn Gethmann
    Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany.
  • Franz J Conraths
    Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany.
  • Magdalena Larska
    Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland.
  • Marcin Smreczak
    Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland.
  • Anna Orlowska
    Frankfurt Orofacial Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. a.b.orlowska@gmail.com.
  • Inger Hamnes
    Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway.
  • Ståle Sviland
    Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway.
  • Petter Hopp
    Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway.
  • Katharina Brugger
    Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
  • Franz Rubel
    Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
  • Thomas Balenghien
    CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France.
  • Claire Garros
    IAV Hassan II, Unité MIMC, 10 100, Rabat-Instituts, Morocco.
  • Ignace Rakotoarivony
    IAV Hassan II, Unité MIMC, 10 100, Rabat-Instituts, Morocco.
  • Xavier Allène
    IAV Hassan II, Unité MIMC, 10 100, Rabat-Instituts, Morocco.
  • Jonathan Lhoir
    CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France.
  • David Chavernac
    CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, 34398, Montpellier, France.
  • Jean-Claude Delécolle
    Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, UR7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
  • Bruno Mathieu
    Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, UR7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
  • Delphine Delécolle
    Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Pathology of Strasbourg, UR7292, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
  • Marie-Laure Setier-Rio
    EID Méditerranée, Montpellier, France.
  • Bethsabée Scheid
    EID Méditerranée, Montpellier, France.
  • Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca
    Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Research Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
  • Carlos Barceló
    Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Research Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
  • Javier Lucientes
    Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Rosa Estrada
    Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Alexander Mathis
    Institute for Theoretical Physics and Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
  • Roger Venail
    Avia-GIS NV, Zoersel, Belgium.
  • Wesley Tack
    Meise Botanic Garden, Meise, Belgium.
  • Rene Bødker
    Division for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark.

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