The global distribution and transmission limits of lymphatic filariasis: past and present.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is one of the neglected tropical diseases targeted for global elimination by 2020 and to guide elimination efforts countries have, in recent years, conducted extensive mapping surveys. Documenting the past and present distribution of LF and its environmental limits is important for a number of reasons. Here, we present an initiative to develop a global atlas of LF and present a new global map of the limits of LF transmission.

Methods

We undertook a systematic search and assembly of prevalence data worldwide and used a suite of environmental and climatic data and boosted regression trees (BRT) modelling to map the transmission limits of LF.

Results

Data were identified for 66 of the 72 countries currently endemic and for a further 1

SUBMITTER: Cano J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4197264 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature