Ecological suitability modeling for anthrax in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

dc.contributor.authorSteenkamp, Pieter Johan
dc.contributor.authorVan Heerden, Henriette
dc.contributor.authorVan Schalkwyk, Ockert Louis
dc.contributor.emailhenriette.vanheerden@up.ac.zaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2018-04-10T07:37:41Z
dc.date.available2018-04-10T07:37:41Z
dc.date.issued2018-01-18
dc.descriptionS1 Table. Worldclim variables used in Maxent model.en_ZA
dc.descriptionS2 Table. Overview of environmental data used in Maxent indicating the variables, type of data and source.en_ZA
dc.descriptionS1 Fig. Spatially unique cases of Bacillus anthracis and the predicted suitability for B. anthracis occurrence.en_ZA
dc.descriptionS2 Fig. Twelve environmental variables used in the final Maxent model.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe spores of the soil-borne bacterium, Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax are highly resistant to adverse environmental conditions. Under ideal conditions, anthrax spores can survive for many years in the soil. Anthrax is known to be endemic in the northern part of Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa (SA), with occasional epidemics spreading southward. The aim of this study was to identify and map areas that are ecologically suitable for the harboring of B. anthracis spores within the KNP. Anthrax surveillance data and selected environmental variables were used as inputs to the maximum entropy (Maxent) species distribution modeling method. Anthrax positive carcasses from 1988±2011 in KNP (n = 597) and a total of 40 environmental variables were used to predict and evaluate their relative contribution to suitability for anthrax occurrence in KNP. The environmental variables that contributed the most to the occurrence of anthrax were soil type, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and precipitation. Apart from the endemic Pafuri region, several other areas within KNP were classified as ecologically suitable. The outputs of this study could guide future surveillance efforts to focus on predicted suitable areas for anthrax, since the KNP currently uses passive surveillance to detect anthrax outbreaks.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentProduction Animal Studiesen_ZA
dc.description.departmentVeterinary Tropical Diseasesen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2018en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.plosone.orgen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSteenkamp PJ, van Heerden H, van Schalkwyk OL (2018) Ecological suitability modeling for anthrax in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. PLoS ONE 13(1): e0191704. https:// DOI.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0191704.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1371/journal.pone.0191704
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/64441
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_ZA
dc.rights© 2018 Steenkamp et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License,en_ZA
dc.subjectBacillus anthracisen_ZA
dc.subjectSoilen_ZA
dc.subjectAnthrax outbreaksen_ZA
dc.subjectKruger National Park (KNP)en_ZA
dc.subjectKruger National Park (South Africa)en_ZA
dc.subject.otherVeterinary science articles SDG-03en_ZA
dc.subject.otherSDG-03: Good health and well-being
dc.titleEcological suitability modeling for anthrax in the Kruger National Park, South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Steenkamp_Ecological_2018.pdf
Size:
2.05 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Article
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Steenkamp_EcologicalTabS1_2018.docx
Size:
25.38 KB
Format:
Microsoft Word XML
Description:
Table S1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Steenkamp_EcologicalTabS2_2018.docx
Size:
14.13 KB
Format:
Microsoft Word XML
Description:
Table S2
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Steenkamp_EcologicalFigS1_2018.png
Size:
173.15 KB
Format:
Portable Network Graphics
Description:
Figure S1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Steenkamp_EcologicalFigS2_2018.png
Size:
236.97 KB
Format:
Portable Network Graphics
Description:
Figure S2

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: