Journal article
VectorNet: collaborative mapping of arthropod disease vectors in Europe and surrounding areas since 2010
- Abstract:
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Background: Arthropod vectors such as ticks, mosquitoes, sandflies and biting midges are of public and veterinary health significance because of the pathogens they can transmit. Understanding their distributions is a key means of assessing risk. VectorNet maps their distribution in the EU and surrounding areas.
Aim: We aim to describe the methodology underlying VectorNet maps, encourage standardisation and evaluate output.
Methods: Vector distribution and surveillance activity data have been collected since 2010 from a combination of literature searches, field-survey data by entomologist volunteers via a network facilitated for each participating country and expert validation. Data were collated by VectorNet members and extensively validated during data entry and mapping processes.
Results: As of 2021, the VectorNet archive consisted of ca 475,000 records relating to > 330 species. Maps for 42 species are routinely produced online at subnational administrative unit resolution. On VectorNet maps, there are relatively few areas where surveillance has been recorded but there are no distribution data. Comparison with other continental databases, namely the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and VectorBase show that VectorNet has 5–10 times as many records overall, although three species are better represented in the other databases. In addition, VectorNet maps show where species are absent. VectorNet’s impact as assessed by citations (ca 60 per year) and web statistics (58,000 views) is substantial and its maps are widely used as reference material by professionals and the public.
Conclusion: VectorNet maps are the pre-eminent source of rigorously validated arthropod vector maps for Europe and its surrounding areas.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 7.6MB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.26.2200666
Authors
- Publisher:
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
- Journal:
- Eurosurveillance More from this journal
- Volume:
- 28
- Issue:
- 26
- Article number:
- 2200666
- Publication date:
- 2023-06-29
- Acceptance date:
- 2023-03-07
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1560-7917
- ISSN:
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1025-496X
- Pmid:
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37382886
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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1494562
- Local pid:
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pubs:1494562
- Deposit date:
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2023-09-04
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Wint et al
- Copyright date:
- 2023
- Rights statement:
- This article is copyright of the authors or their affiliated institutions, 2023. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) Licence. You may share and adapt the material, but must give appropriate credit to the source, provide a link to the licence and indicate if changes were made
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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