title: Spatial pattern of schistosomiasis in Xingzi, Jiangxi Province, China: the effects of environmental factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The recent rebounds of schistosomiasis in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River pose a challenge to the current control strategies. In this study, identification of potential high risk snail habitats was proposed, as an alternative sustainable control strategy, in Xingzi County, China. Parasitological data from standardized surveys were available for 36,208 locals (aged between 6-65 years) from 42 sample villages across the county and used in combination with environmental data to investigate the spatial pattern of schistosomiasis risks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Environmental factors measured at village level were examined as possible risk factors by fitting a logistic regression model to schsitosomiasis risk. The approach of ordinary kriging was then used to predict the prevalence of schistosomiasis over the whole county.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Risk analysis indicated that distance to snail habitat and wetland, rainfall, land surface temperature, hours of daylight, and vegetation are significantly associated with infection and the residual spatial pattern of infection showed no spatial correlation. The predictive map illustrated that high risk regions were located close to Beng Lake, Liaohuachi Lake, and Shixia Lake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those significant environmental factors can perfectly explain spatial variation in infection and the high risk snail habitats delineated by the predicted map of schistosomiasis risks will help local decision-makers to develop a more sustainable control strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zhijie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zengliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Qiulin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qingwu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019371:Topography, Medical; D055815:Young Adult