Index

e-ISSN 1828-1427

 

Rivista trimestrale di Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria edita dall'Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’

A quarterly journal devoted to veterinary public health, veterinary science and medicine published by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’ in Teramo, Italy


Editorial policy
Copyright and disclaimers
Guidelines for Authors
Editors
Honorary Members
Editorial Board
Scientific Advisory Board
Associate Editors
Issues online
Tariffs
Contact
 

ISSUES ONLINE

2004 - Volume 40 (3), July-September
   
 
S. Caracappa, M. Bagnato, P. Sghembri, A. Guercio, F. Prato, G. Tumino, A. Migliazzo, F. Geraci, S. Vullo, S. Agnello & C. Di Bella
Epidemiological surveillance of bluetongue in Sicily 124-129
       

Summary
The authors describe the status of bluetongue (BT) since 13 October 2000, when the first outbreak was reported in Sicily. The results of the epidemiological surveillance programme, based on sentinel animals distributed over the entire region, are also given. In Sicily, the incidence of the disease is relatively low compared to some other areas in the Mediterranean Basin. Seventy-five outbreaks of the disease were recorded in the first three epidemics (October 2000 to May 2003). Overall morbidity was 13.25%, mortality 5.36% and the case fatality rate 41.49%. The Province of Catania seems to have been the worst affected; the incidence rate in August 2002 was 0.8%. The monthly incidence rate was calculated for sentinel animals of which the estimated total was 3 654, distributed in 63 areas. It is important to underline that in the period under consideration, a total of 2 382 animals was examined. During the surveillance period, which extended from September 2001 to May 2003, the incidence of BT peaked in September 2002, at 5.91% ± 0.979. The cumulative incidence rate from September 2001 to August 2002 and September 2002 to March 2003 was 4.53% ± 0.76 and 20.03% ± 1.85, respectively. The circulation of BT virus serotypes 2, 4, 9 and 16 is described, as revealed by seroconversion in sentinel animals.

Keywords
Bluetongue, Epidemiology, Italy, Orbivirus, Outbreaks, Sentinel animals, Serotypes, Sicily.


Full article

     
 
    © Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 2004