Could drought conditions trigger Schmallenberg virus and other arboviruses circulation?

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 2011, a new orthobunyavirus, named the Schmallenberg virus (SBV), was discovered in Europe. Like the related Shamonda virus, SBV is an arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus). After its discovery, the virus was detected in a wide area in north-western Europe, an unexpected finding in a territory where climatic conditions would not seem ideal for arbovirus transmission. This sudden expansion suggests the effect of 2011 drought as a key factor that may have triggered SBV circulation. The possible influence of drought, recorded in north-western Europe in early 2011, on virus circulation was evaluated.

Methods and results

The locations of SBV detections in Europe until April 2012 were obtained, and area of virus circulation was evaluated by kernel density estimation. Pre

SUBMITTER: Calzolari M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3614475 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature