Detection of space-time clusters and epidemiological examinations of scabies in chamois

In this paper some methodological approaches towards the detection of tempo ral, spatial and space-time clusters are presented and discussed in context with epidemiological factors of scabies in chamois. This presentation comp rises in particular the use of the Scan Test (Wallenstein, 1980) for the de tection of temporal clusters and the tests developed by Knox (1964) and Man tel (1967) for the testing of spatiotemporal interactions. Between 1952 and 1998 a total of 1689 cases of scabies in chamois and six cases in ibex wer e documented in 137 game preserves of the Austrian province of Styria. The evaluations indicate the presence of spatial and temporal clusters. Some po ssibilities for the spread of scabies in chamois are presented and reveal i bex as a probable vector for scabies transmission between chamois populatio ns. The information may lead to strategies for controlling the spread of th e disease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.