Geo-environmental model for the prediction of potential transmission risk of Dirofilaria in an area with dry climate and extensive irrigated crops. The case of Spain
Abstract
Zoonotic filarioses caused by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are transmitted by culicid mosquitoes. Therefore Dirofilaria transmission depends on climatic factors like temperature and humidity. In spite of the dry climate of most of the Spanish territory, there are extensive irrigated crops areas providing moist habitats favourable for mosquito breeding. A GIS model to predict the risk of Dirofilaria transmission in Spain, based on temperatures and rainfall data as well as in the distribution of irrigated crops areas, is constructed. The model predicts that potential risk of Dirofilaria transmission exists in all the Spanish territory. Highest transmission risk exists in several areas of Andalucía, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Valencia, Aragón and Cataluña, where moderate/high temperatures coincide with extensive irrigated crops. High risk in Balearic Islands and in some points of Canary Islands, is also predicted. The lowest risk is predicted in Northern cold and scarcely or non-irrigated dry Southeastern areas. The existence of irrigations locally increases transmission risk in low rainfall areas of the Spanish territory. The model can contribute to implement rational preventive therapy guidelines in accordance with the transmission characteristics of each local area. Moreover, the use of humidity-related factors could be of interest in future predictions to be performed in countries with similar environmental characteristics.
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The spatial distribution of positive cases presents a clear association with geo-environmental factors such as expected annual generations of mosquitoes, irrigated areas and rivers in valleys protected from winds, and proximity to the coast.
“This spatial distribution of the positive cases presents a clear association with different geo-environmental factors, such as the number of expected annual generations of mosquitoes (linked to temperature), the existence of irrigated areas and rivers in valleys protected from the winds, and the proximity to the coast, all of which are considered as risk factors for D. immitis transmission [10].”
From Expansion of canine heartworm in Spain (2022) · cites this paper as [10]
In Spain, a GIS model based on temperature, rainfall, and location of irrigated crops predicted the highest risk of D. immitis transmission in several areas from the centre, east, and south of the Iberian Peninsula, where moderate/high temperatures concurred with extensive irrigated crops, and high risk in some places of the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands; the lowest risk was predicted in the
“In Spain, a GIS model was developed to predict the risk of D. immitis transmission in the country, based on data of temperature, rainfall, and the location of irrigated crops, concluding that the highest risk of transmission was located in several areas from the centre, east, and south of the Iberian Peninsula, where moderate/high temperatures concurred with the presence of extensive irrigated”
From What has happened to heartworm disease in Europe in the last 10 years? (2022) · cites this paper as [177]
The distribution of feline heartworm confirms the distribution pattern previously observed in canine prevalence studies and infection risk studies in Spain.
“confirming the distribution pattern previously observed in canine prevalence studies and the infection risk studies carried out in Spain (7, 24).”
From Seroprevalence of Feline Heartworm in Spain: Completing the Epidemiological Puzzle of a Neglected Disease in the Cat (2022) · cites this paper as [24]
The highest antibody seroprevalences appear in areas of the southern peninsula, the Mediterranean regions, and the Canary Islands.
“The highest antibody seroprevalences appear in areas of the southern peninsula and the Mediterranean regions, as well as the Canary Islands”
From Seroprevalence of Feline Heartworm in Spain: Completing the Epidemiological Puzzle of a Neglected Disease in the Cat (2022) · cites this paper as [24]
The highest canine D. immitis prevalences were found in dogs from 1 to 6 years old, with the highest in dogs 1-3 years followed by 3-6 years.
“By age ranges, the highest prevalences were found in dogs from 1 to 6 years, and significant differences were only observed between dogs betwee 9–12 year-old compared with dogs between 1 and 6 year-old (χ 2 = 2.753, df = 5, P = 0.738) (Table 1).”
From Prevalence of heartworm in dogs and cats of Madrid, Spain (2017) · cites this paper as [23]
The area included in this study is at high risk of D. immitis infection according to GIS research.
“A GIS research on the general prediction for the distribution of dirofilariosis in Spain showed that the area included in this study is at high risk of D. immitis infection [23]”
From Prevalence of heartworm in dogs and cats of Madrid, Spain (2017) · cites this paper as [23]
Other studies showed the highest canine heartworm prevalences in older dogs.
“other studies showed the highest prevalences in older dogs [14, 23].”
From Prevalence of heartworm in dogs and cats of Madrid, Spain (2017) · cites this paper as [23]
The spatial distribution of positive cases has a clear association with different geo-environmental factors, humidity and temperature, the existence of irrigated areas, areas with abundant water, rivers in valleys protected from winds, and proximity to the coast, which are considered risk factors for the transmission of dirofilariasis.
“The spatial distribution of positive cases has a clear association with different geo-environmental factors, humidity and temperature, the existence of irrigated areas, areas with abundant water, rivers in valleys protected from winds, and proximity to the coast, which are considered risk factors for the transmission of dirofilariasis (43).”
From Seroepidemiological Study of Canine and Human Dirofilariasis in the Endemic Region of Northern Serbia (2020) · cites this paper as [43]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Simón, L., Afonin, A., López-Díez, L. I., González-Miguel, J., Morchón, R., Carretón, E., Montoya-Alonso, J. A., Kartashev, V., & Simón, F.
- Affiliations
- Universidad de Salamanca (ES)
- St Petersburg University (RU)
- Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ES)
- Rostov State Medical University (RU)
- Corresponding author
- Simón, Fernando
- ORCID
- Venue
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-03
- Volume
- 200
- Issue
- 3-4
- Pages
- 257-264
- ISSN
- 0304-4017 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1975298155
- Semantic Scholar
- 1e41f7e45a98632105fd8350b210ce2423a0074c
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 3.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Veterinary Parasitology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Acceda (Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
- Keywords
- Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, canine heartworm disease, mosquito-borne transmission, risk prediction model, irrigated crops, climatic factors, temperature, rainfall, arid climate, Spain
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Climate, Dirofilaria, Dirofilariasis, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Humidity, Insect Vectors, Models, Theoretical, Culicidae, Spain, Temperature, Zoonoses, Risk Assessment, Geographic Information Systems, Agricultural Irrigation
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