ORCID Profile
0000-0003-0640-181X
Current Organisations
Brigham and Women's Hospital
,
Lancaster University
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-09-2021
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.8082
Abstract: The koala, Phascolarctos cinereus , is an iconic Australian wildlife species facing a rapid decline in South‐East Queensland (SEQLD). For conservation planning, the ability to estimate the size of koala populations is crucial. Systematic surveys are the most common approach to estimate koala populations but because of their cost they are often restricted to small geographic areas and are conducted infrequently. Public interest and participation in the collection of koala sighting data is increasing in popularity, but such data are generally not used for population estimation. We modeled monthly sightings of koalas reported by members of the public from 1997 to 2013 in SEQLD by developing a self‐exciting spatio‐temporal point process model. This allowed us to account for characteristics that are associated with koala presence (which vary over both space and time) while accounting for detection bias in the koala sighting process and addressing spatial clustering of observations. The density of koalas varied spatially due to the heterogeneous nature of koala habitat in SEQLD, with a mean density of 0.0019 koalas per km 2 over the study period. The percentage of land areas with very low densities (0–0.0005 koalas per km 2 ) remained similar throughout the study period representing, on average, 66% of the total study area. The approach described in this paper provides a useful starting point to allow greater use to be made of incidental koala sighting data. We propose that the model presented here could be used to combine systematic koala survey data (which is spatially restricted, but more precise) with koala sighting data (which is incidental and often biased by nature, but often collected over large geographical areas). Our approach could also be adopted for modeling the density of other wildlife species where data is collected in the same manner.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 11-01-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-11-2020
DOI: 10.1111/TRF.16175
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-10-2017
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-017-14615-2
Abstract: Sylvatic rabies has been eradicated from most of Central Europe, but cases still occur in the Balkans. Oral rabies vaccination of foxes is an effective method for controlling the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the success of aerial vaccination c aigns conducted in Montenegro by identifying ecological, environmental and climatic factors that influenced the prevalence of antibodies to the rabies vaccine. To monitor the bait uptake and the serological responses to vaccination, foxes were shot by hunters. Of 175 shot foxes, 142 foxes (81.1%) had consumed baits. Of these only a total of 81 (57.0%) tested positive for rabies vaccine antibodies, possibly, due to the delayed uptake of bait in which the rabies vaccine was already inactivated. We found that low vaccination responses were associated with high fox density and bait delivery in open areas. In high fox density habitat, bait uptake might be delayed as other food and prey options for foxes are abundant. Similarly, delayed bait uptake probably occurred in open areas as such areas are less frequently used by foxes. The findings of this study suggest that efficacy of oral rabies vaccination by aerial delivery is associated with landscape features.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2020
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 08-07-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-09-2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-04-2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-11-2020
Abstract: Difficulties in reliably diagnosing podoconiosis have severely limited the scale-up and uptake of the World Health Organization–recommended morbidity management and disability prevention interventions for affected people. We aimed to identify a set of clinical features that, combined into an algorithm, allow for diagnosis of podoconiosis. We identified 372 people with lymphoedema and administered a structured questionnaire on signs and symptoms associated with podoconiosis and other potential causes of lymphoedema in northern Ethiopia. All in iduals were tested for Wuchereria bancrofti–specific immunoglobulin G4 in the field using Wb123. Based on expert diagnosis, 344 (92.5%) of the 372 participants had podoconiosis. The rest had lymphoedema due to other aetiologies. The best-performing set of symptoms and signs was the presence of moss on the lower legs and a family history of leg swelling, plus the absence of current or previous leprosy, plus the absence of swelling in the groin, plus the absence of chronic illness (such as diabetes mellitus or heart or kidney diseases). The overall sensitivity of the algorithm was 91% (95% confidence interval [CI] 87.6 to 94.4) and specificity was 95% (95% CI 85.45 to 100). We developed a clinical algorithm of clinical history and physical examination that could be used in areas suspected or endemic for podoconiosis. Use of this algorithm should enable earlier identification of podoconiosis cases and scale-up of interventions.
Publisher: F1000 Research Ltd
Date: 15-12-2017
DOI: 10.12688/WELLCOMEOPENRES.12483.2
Abstract: Background : In 2011, the World Health Organization recognized podoconiosis as one of the neglected tropical diseases. Nonetheless, the magnitude of podoconiosis and the geographical distribution of the disease is poorly understood. Based on a nationwide mapping survey and geostatistical modelling, we predict the prevalence of podoconiosis and estimate the number of cases across Ethiopia. Methods : We used nationwide data collected in Ethiopia between 2008 and 2013. Data were available for 141,238 in iduals from 1,442 communities in 775 districts from all nine regional states and two city administrations. We developed a geostatistical model of podoconiosis prevalence among adults (in iduals aged 15 years or above), by combining environmental factors. The number of people with podoconiosis was then estimated using a gridded map of adult population density for 2015. Results : Podoconiosis is endemic in 345 districts in Ethiopia: 144 in Oromia, 128 in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s [SNNP], 64 in Amhara, 4 in Benishangul Gumuz, 4 in Tigray and 1 in Somali Regional State. Nationally, our estimates suggest that 1,537,963 adults (95% confidence intervals, 290,923-4,577,031 adults) were living with podoconiosis in 2015. Three regions (SNNP, Oromia and Amhara) contributed 99% of the cases. The highest proportion of in iduals with podoconiosis resided in the SNNP (39%), while 32% and 29% of people with podoconiosis resided in Oromia and Amhara Regional States, respectively. Tigray and Benishangul Gumuz Regional States bore lower burdens, and in the remaining regions, podoconiosis was almost non-existent. Conclusions : The estimates of podoconiosis cases presented here based upon the combination of currently available epidemiological data and a robust modelling approach clearly show that podoconiosis is highly endemic in Ethiopia. Given the presence of low cost prevention, and morbidity management and disability prevention services, it is our collective responsibility to scale-up interventions rapidly.
Publisher: F1000 Research Ltd
Date: 04-09-2017
DOI: 10.12688/WELLCOMEOPENRES.12483.1
Abstract: Background: In 2011, the World Health Organization recognized podoconiosis as one of the neglected tropical diseases. Nonetheless, the number of people with podoconiosis and the geographical distribution of the disease is poorly understood. Based on a nationwide mapping survey and geostatistical modelling, we predict the prevalence of podoconiosis and estimate the number of cases across Ethiopia. Methods: We used nationwide data collected in Ethiopia between 2008 and 2013. Data were available for 141,238 in iduals from 1,442 villages in 775 districts from all nine regional states and two city administrations. We developed a geostatistical model of podoconiosis prevalence among adults (in iduals aged 15 years or above), by combining environmental factors. The number of people with podoconiosis was then estimated using a gridded map of adult population density for 2015. Results: Podoconiosis is endemic in 345 districts in Ethiopia: 144 in Oromia, 128 in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s [SNNP], 64 in Amhara, 4 in Benishangul Gumuz, 4 in Tigray and 1 in Somali Regional State. Nationally, our estimates suggest that 1,537,963 adults (95% confidence intervals, 290,923-4,577,031 adults) were living with podoconiosis in 2015. Three regions (SNNP, Oromia and Amhara) contributed 99% of the cases. The highest proportion of in iduals with podoconiosis resided in the SNNP (39%), while 32% and 29% of people with podoconiosis resided in Oromia and Amhara Regional States, respectively. Tigray and Benishangul Gumuz Regional States bore lower burdens, and in the remaining regions, podoconiosis was almost non-existent. Discussion: The estimates of podoconiosis cases presented here based upon the combination of currently available epidemiological data and a robust modelling approach clearly show that podoconiosis is highly endemic in Ethiopia. Given the presence of low cost prevention, and morbidity management and disability prevention services, it is our collective responsibility to scale-up interventions rapidly.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 16-01-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.14.426709
Abstract: Monitoring malaria transmission is a critical component of efforts to achieve targets for elimination and eradication. Two commonly monitored metrics of transmission intensity are parasite prevalence (PR) and the entomological inoculation rate (EIR). Using geostatistical methods, we investigate the relationship between Plasmodium falciparum PR and EIR using data collected over 38 months in a rural area of Malawi. Our results indicate that hotspots identified through the EIR and PR partly overlapped during high transmission seasons but not during low transmission seasons. The estimated relationship showed a one-month delayed effect of EIR on PR such that at low transmission levels increases in EIR are associated with rapid rise in PR, but at high transmission levels, decreases in EIR do not translate into notable reductions in PR. Our study emphasises the need for integrated malaria control strategies that combines vector and human host managements monitored by both entomological and parasitaemia indices.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-01-2021
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-020-80387-X
Abstract: Micronutrient deficiencies and stunting rates are high in many low-income countries. Increasing and ersifying food intake are often challenging for small-scale farmers in lowland areas as flooding often results in crop losses and drowning of livestock. A cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted over 12-months in Bangladesh, involving 150 small-scale duck rearing households, including 50 control, and 50 households each in two intervention arms. Interventions focussing on improving duck health and duck nutrition were applied on a village level. Data analysis focussed on assessing the impact of interventions on duck mortality, sales and consumption, and on dietary ersity of household members. Improved duck rearing increased the consumption and the sales of ducks. Household selling more ducks were more likely to purchase and consume milk products, contributing to an improved households’ dietary ersity. Our results suggest that improving duck rearing can provide a suitable and sustainable alternative to maintain and improve dietary ersity of households in flood-prone areas.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Emanuele Giorgi.