Investigations on West Nile virus (WNV) circulation in the epidemic season 2007

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Article Title:	Investigations on West Nile virus (WNV) circulation in the epidemic season 2007
Authors:	Liliana Baltesiu, Marian Traian Gomoiu, Radu Mudura, Valeria Purcarea-Ciulacu, Gabriela Nicolescu
Affiliation:	Department of Spatial Applications, Romanian Space Agency – ROSA, Bucharest Romanian Centre for Remote Sensing Apply in Agriculture (CRUTA), National Institute for Research and Development for Land Reclamation (INCD-ISPIF), Bucharest National Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology – GeoEcoMar, Bucharest/Constanta Department of Entomology and vector-borne infections, National Institute of Research and Development for Microbiology and Immunology “Cantacuzino” – INCDMI “Cantacuzino”, Bucharest
Abstract:	Our studies were designed to explore the impact that environmental changes and other causes have at the re-emergence of human infections with West Nile virus (WNV). Have been identified, evaluated and categorized the risk ecosystems in Romania and environmental conditions caused by global changes that may influence the spatial-temporal distribution and dynamics of WNV. Were conducted complex investigations of WNV transmission cycle in different types of ecosystems in Romania, integrating data of evolution of the environment, with particular emphasis on climate change and other environmental changes. We followed the level present of WNV in its vertebrate hosts and vectors in different ecological conditions. Was completed GIS database of land cover maps (LC) in the investigated areas in order to achieve good spatial analysis and to integrate data on WNV circulation, with their exact location.
Keywords:	hosts, transmission cycle, climate change, land cover/ land use, GIS database
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*Correspondence:	Liliana Baltesiu, Romanian Space Agency, Department of Spatial Applications, 21-25 Mendeleev Str., 010362, Bucharest, Romania, Tel. +40-21-3168722, Fax. +40-21-3128804, Email: liliana.baltesiu@rosa.ro