Statistical Sciences and GIS
The Department of Statistical Sciences and GIS applies advanced analytics, machine learning, and geographic information systems (GIS) to study the spread of animal diseases. By integrating genomic, epidemiological, and satellite data, it develops predictive models to identify at-risk areas and support containment strategies. Through a One Health approach, it transforms complex data into operational tools for zoonosis prevention, contributing to health surveillance and emergency management with innovative solutions.
The Department of Statistical Sciences and GIS develops advanced analytical tools and translates them into operational solutions to support animal, human, and environmental health.
This multidisciplinary unit operates within the Italian National Reference Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology. It provides scientific and technical support in the analysis of complex data and the development of advanced tools for epidemiological surveillance, risk assessment, and the prevention of infectious diseases.
Comprising statisticians, mathematicians, and GIS specialists, the department applies computational epidemiology methods by integrating spatial epidemiology, machine learning, geospatial analysis, network analysis, and mathematical modeling. Through the analysis of epidemiological, genomic, climatic, and environmental datasets, it studies the spread of vector-borne diseases—particularly zoonoses—assessing the factors influencing their transmission and the impact of climate change on their incidence and persistence.
In parallel, the department develops innovative digital tools for managing, analyzing, and visualizing epidemiological data, including Web-GIS platforms, interactive dashboards, and early warning systems. These tools enable real-time monitoring of health and environmental emergencies, disease traceability, geospatial analyses, and decision support.
The department is actively involved in the design, coordination, and implementation of national and international research projects on epidemiological surveillance, infectious disease modeling, and health risk assessment, integrating Earth Observation (EO) data with Artificial Intelligence models.
In addition to its specific research activities, it provides methodological support to IZS-TE laboratories for data analysis and for the design and validation of diagnostic tests. By applying advanced statistical models and predictive microbiology, it contributes to improving surveillance methods and evaluating diagnostic performance.
In the field of education, the department not only provides internal training for the Institute’s staff but also participates in the organization of specialist courses, workshops, and conferences at both national and international levels, with a focus on GIS, network analysis, spatial analysis, statistics, and computational epidemiology applied to veterinary public health.
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Annamaria Conte
Head
With a degree in Statistical Sciences, she has been working for over 30 years at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", where she currently leads the Statistics and GIS Unit.
With a degree in Statistical Sciences, she has been working for over 30 years at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", where she currently leads the Statistics and GIS Unit.
Her research focuses on analytical methods and spatial epidemiology of major animal infectious diseases, including zoonoses, with particular attention to the factors influencing the spread and persistence of vector-borne diseases. She coordinates a multidisciplinary team of statisticians, mathematicians, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) experts. She plays an active role in international projects that integrate Earth Observation data and Artificial Intelligence to develop early warning systems aimed at preventing and controlling emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
She is a leader and collaborator in numerous projects funded by the European Union, the European Space Agency, and other international institutions, contributing to the development of innovative tools for monitoring vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. Author of over 130 publications in peer-reviewed journals, she is currently a member of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (Term II), the scientific advisory group of the Quadripartite organizations (FAO, UNEP, WHO, WOAH) on One Health collaboration.
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- + - Selected papers
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Titolo 1
Cresci M., Di Sabatino D., Barbuceanu F., Tamba P., Motiu R., Motiu M., Manita F., Vincifori G., Ciarrocchi E., Bonfini B., Portanti O., Lorusso A., Hristescu D., Calistri P.
Lumpy Skin Disease
Di Giuseppe A., Zenobio V., Dall’Acqua F., Di Sabatino D., Calistri P.
Assessing the Adoption of One Health Approaches in National Plans to Combat Health Threats: The Pilot of a One Health Conceptual Framework in Armenia
Milano A., Robbiati C., Declich S., Calistri P., Pediconi O., Amato L., Paronyan L., Avetisyan L., Manucharyan A., Avetisyan G., Yesayan T., Gevorgyan A., Markosyan T., Dente M.G.
Severe Streptococcus equi Subspecies zooepidemicus Outbreak from Unpasteurized Dairy Product Consumption, Italy
Bosica S., Chiaverini A., De Angelis M.E., Petrini A., Averaimo D., Martino M., Rulli M., Saletti M.A., Cantelmi M.C., Ruggeri F., Lodi F., Calistri P., Cito F., Cammà C., Di Domenico M., Rinaldi A., Fazii P., Cedrone F., Di Martino G., Accorsi P., Morelli D., De Luca N., Pomilio F., Parruti G., Savini G.
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