Analysis of some factors influencing the epidemiology of Bluetongue Virus in ruminants. A hypothesis of control strategy through decrease of Culicoides and their associated damage in farm

The main object of this research has been to apply the scientific assumption that the alkalization is able to make inhospitable the larval reproductive sites in the identified area (Sant’Antioco). Moreover several studies about the reproductive behaviour of BT vectors has been conducted. First every data about BT history in Italy and especially in Sardinia had been gathered, then a epidemiologic retrospective view of the events in the whole island has been issued to study the disease prevalence and how environmental and geo-pedological factors have been able to change this prevalence. The research has been conducted in the pilot farm into the selected area of Sant’Antioco where the first hypothesis has been tested and every information about larval development has been collected. During the whole experimental period have been collected all the data about captures in the light traps and captures in the traps where midges were emerging from the larval case in both areas, alkalized and not. Furthermore have been performed the epidemiologic model taking into account the local epidemiological data and the several variables that were involved in the damage registered in every farm of the island of Sant’Antioco. Experimental data first of all have been emphasize the possibility of cut down the larval reproduction extremely in the alkalized sites then have allowed to study the BT vectors density closely and its relation with the disease prevalence in the heads presents in the near farms. The results revealed the different distribution of the disease prevalence in the several farms, referable to minute variation of the farm location. In the end it seems essential to improve the farm management through the widespread action of awakening to farmers.