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2099-12-31
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SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF BIOMPHALARIA SPP., THE INTERMEDIATE HOST SNAILS OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI, IN BRAZIL
Intermediate host snail
Schistosomiasis
Risk mapping and prediction
Ecological niche model
Maximum entropy
Brazil
Author
Affilliation
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Basel, Switzerland / University of Basel. Basel, Switzerland / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Department of Pathobiological Sciences. School of Veterinary Medicine. Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Basel, Switzerland / University of Basel. Basel, Switzerland.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Basel, Switzerland / University of Basel. Basel, Switzerland.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Department of Pathobiological Sciences. School of Veterinary Medicine. Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Basel, Switzerland / University of Basel. Basel, Switzerland.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Basel, Switzerland / University of Basel. Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract
Schistosomiasis mansoni remains an important parasitic disease of man, endemic in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South America and the Caribbean. The aetiological agent is the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, whereas aquatic snails of the genus Biomphalaria act as intermediate hosts in the parasite life cycle. In Brazil, the distribution of Biomphalaria spp. is closely associated with the occurrence of schistosomiasis. The purpose of this study was to map and predict the spatial distribution of the intermediate host snails of S. mansoni across Brazil. We assembled snail "presence-only" data and used a maximum entropy approach, along with climatic and environmental variables to produce predictive risk maps. We identified a series of risk factors that govern the distribution of Biomphalaria snails. We find that high-risk areas for B. glabrata are concentrated in the regions of Northeast and Southeast and the northern part of the South region. B. straminea are found in the Northeast and Southeast regions, and B. tenagophila are concentrated in the Southeast and South regions. Our findings confirm that the presence of the intermediate host snails is correlated with the occurrence of schistosomiasis mansoni. The generated risk maps of intermediate host snails might assist the national control programme for spatial targeting of control interventions and to ultimately move towards schistosomiasis elimination in Brazil.
Keywords
BiomphalariaIntermediate host snail
Schistosomiasis
Risk mapping and prediction
Ecological niche model
Maximum entropy
Brazil
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