Predicting the current and future potential distributions of lymphatic filariasis in Africa using maximum entropy ecological niche modelling.

ABSTRACT: Modelling the spatial distributions of human parasite species is crucial to understanding the environmental determinants of infection as well as for guiding the planning of control programmes. Here, we use ecological niche modelling to map the current potential distribution of the macroparasitic disease, lymphatic filariasis (LF), in Africa, and to estimate how future changes in climate and population could affect its spread and burden across the continent. We used 508 community-specific infection presence data collated from the published literature in conjunction with five predictive environmental/climatic and demographic variables, and a maximum entropy niche modelling method to construct the first ecological niche maps describing potential distribution and burden of LF in Africa. We als

SUBMITTER: Slater H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3281123 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature