VectorMap-GR: A local scale operational management tool for entomological monitoring, to support vector control activities in Greece and the Mediterranean Basin

Authors: FOTAKIS, EMMANOUIL - FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY - HELLAS; ORFANOS, MANOLIS - AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS; COULERIS, THODORIS - AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS; STAMATELOPOULOS, PANAGIOTIS - AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS; TSIROPOULOS, ZISIS - AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS; KAMPOURAKI, ANASTASIA - AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS; KIOULOS, ILLIAS - AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS; MAVRIDIS, KOSTANTINOS - FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY - HELLAS; CHASKOPOULOU, ALEXANDRA - EUROPEAN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL LABORATORY (EBCL); KOLIOPOULOS, GEORGE - AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS; VONTAS, JOHN - AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

Submitted to: Current Research in Parasitology and Vector Borne Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/5/2021
Publication Date: 10/11/2021
Citation: Fotakis, E., Orfanos, M., Couleris, T., Stamatelopoulos, P., Tsiropoulos, Z., Kampouraki, A., Kioulos, I., Mavridis, K., Chaskopoulou, A., Koliopoulos, G., Vontas, J. 2021. VectorMap-GR: A local scale operational management tool for entomological monitoring, to support vector control activities in Greece and the Mediterranean Basin. Current Research in Parasitology and Vector Borne Diseases. 1, 100053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100053.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100053

Interpretive Summary: In light of aiding and optimizing regional/national vector-borne disease preparedness and response, EBCL scientists contributed to the design and implementation of VectorMap-Gr: an online, operational tool for entomological and epidemiological data monitoring to support timely and targeted vector control decisions. The tool supports the transformation of raw multi data into operationally relevant information (i.e., customized maps, charts, tables) in a highly interactive fashion achieved through activation filters and the ArcGIS technology. End users may obtain information on vector spatiotemporal dynamics, insecticide resistance status, occurrence of vector-borne diseases (pathogens/infections in vectors, sentinel animals and humans), and operationally relevant physical feature georeferenced data set (i.e., mosquito breeding sites). The tool, already implemented in Greece, may be readily adapted to other local vector-borne disease settings and vector surveillance/management programs across the world.

Technical Abstract: Over the past decade, Greece and other Mediterranean countries have witnessed the emergence and resurgence of several vector-borne diseases (VBDs), posing eminent public health challenges and threatening the tourist industry. An essential prerequisite for the design and execution of efficient and sustainable VBD management programs is the establishment of integrative entomological and epidemiological surveillance systems. In Greece, robust surveillance programs are of paramount importance, as the country constitutes a highly heterogeneous VBD setting, requiring context-specific vector control responses. However, the monitoring and management of surveillance datasets (often chronologically fragmented, scattered in regional health district offices and partially accessible upon requisition), as well as their transformation into actionable information, is a complex undertaking. In light of aiding and optimizing vector control efforts, we developed VectorMap-GR, an online, open access, operational management tool for entomological and complementary epidemiological monitoring data. The tool’s key components are a set of term trees/ontologies running throughout the system, the system’s database and a map interface for data querying and display. The tool supports transformation of raw multi data into operationally relevant information (i.e. customized maps, charts, tables and reports) in a highly interactive fashion achieved through query filters and the ArcGIS technology embedded in the system. End-users may search for and obtain information on (a) the mosquito fauna composition, abundance and spatiotemporal dynamics; (b) the mosquito insecticide resistance status and underlying resistance mechanisms; (c) the occurrence of VBD pathogens/infections in vectors, animals and humans, and; (d) operationally relevant physical feature georeferenced datasets (e.g. mosquito breeding sites). VectorMap-GR was pilot implemented during 2018-2020 in a mosquito control program in the Region of Crete (southern Greece).