Localization of kala-azar in the endemic region of Bihar, India based on land use/land cover assessment at different scales.
Land cover, a critical variable in the epidemiology of kala-azar, can be remotely characterized by customizing and integrating "state-of-the-art" imagery at different spatial scales from different sensors onboard satellites. A study was conducted at four levels (national, state, district and village) investigating the role of land use/land cover (LULC) for leishmaniasis transmission resulting in a framework highlighting the links between LULC and areas endemic for the disease. Distribution maps were analysed by a probabilistic approach (Bayesian classifier) which produced a set of "suitability estimates" based on the probability of sand fly presence. The development of a sound knowledge of each link in the predicted sequence of satellite views offering an extraordinary opportunity to support the mapping of kala-azar endemicity and stratification of areas suitable for sand fly habitats across the country as well as at the local scale.
Department of Vector Biology and Control, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India.
Gouri Sankar
GS
Bhunia
Shreekant
S
Kesari
Nandini
N
Chatterjee
Vijay
V
Kumar
Pradeep
P
Das
D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D011336:Probability; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*