Applying species distribution models in public health research by predicting snakebite risk using venomous snakes' habitat suitability as an indicating factor.

ABSTRACT: Snakebite envenoming is an important public health problem in Iran, despite its risk not being quantified. This study aims to use venomous snakes' habitat suitability as an indicator of snakebite risk, to identify high-priority areas for snakebite management across the country. Thus, an ensemble approach using five distribution modelling methods: Generalized Boosted Models, Generalized Additive Models, Maximum Entropy Modelling, Generalized Linear Models, and Random Forest was applied to produce a spatial snakebite risk model for Iran. To achieve this, four venomous snakes' habitat suitability (Macrovipera lebetinus, Echis carinatus, Pseudocerastes persicus and Naja oxiana) were modelled and then multiplied. These medically important snakes are responsible for the most snakebite incidents

SUBMITTER: Yousefi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7582189 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature