title: Bioclimatic modelling of the spread of Dirofilaria spp. in Europe, with a special focus on Ukraine
abstract: Background: The zoonotic disease dirofilariosis, caused by Dirofilaria spp., is expanding geographically in Europe, a phenomenon increasingly linked to climate change. Understanding the environmental drivers of this spread is crucial for surveillance and public health planning. Objective: This study aims to model the ecological niche of Dirofilaria spp. in Europe, identify key climatic drivers, and map areas of high transmission risk, with a specific focus on Ukraine. Methods: We employed a Spec