title: Bioclimatic distribution and prevalence maps for Fasciola hepatica in Espírito Santo State, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fasciolosis affects different ruminant species and leads to great economic losses for cattle farmers worldwide. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate bovine fasciolosis prevalence in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, using slaughter maps provided by slaughterhouses and verifying the origin of cattle.
  
  
  METHODS
  A map was created based on analysis of epidemiological data. The ArcGIS/ArcINFO 10.1 software was employed in order to elaborate updated bioclimatic maps that displayed the fasciolosis prevalence within the state - per city- between 2009 and 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the bioclimatic map it was clear that 52.24% of the state's total area comprise regions considered favorable for the development and survival of Fasciola hepatica. According to the data provided by slaughterhouses, the parasite was more frequent in the cities of Atílio Vivácqua, Itapemirim and Anchieta with respective prevalence of 28.41, 25.50 and 24.95%. Although the northern portion of the state is also favorable for the disease maintenance (reaching rates above 90%), several cities presented prevalence of only 0.99 and 1.94% respectively. These findings indicate that climatic and environmental factors only cannot be considered preponderant to fasciolosis occurrence. Regarding the slaughterhouse located in Anchieta city, the higher prevalence was registered in the cities of Jerônimo Monteiro, Alegre and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, with mean prevalence of 1.21, 1.07 and 2.09% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the present findings suggest a pattern for the prevalence of fasciolosis, records of the cities for the occurrence of the disease usually do not reflect the true origin of animals.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, School of Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Deivid França
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, School of Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo State, Brazil ; Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Isabella Vf
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vila Velha, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gleissy Mada
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Forest Sciences, School of Forest Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Fluminense University Center (UNIFLU), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel da Silva
authors.initials: Dda S
authors.lastname: Gomes
keywords: Fasciola hepatica; Geographic information system (GIS); Maps; Prevalence
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