title: Environmental parameters as risk factors for human and canine Leishmania infection in Thessaly, Central Greece.
abstract: Thessaly, Central Greece, is an endemic area for leishmaniasis with higher incidence rate during the last years. We herein investigated the geographical distribution of human leishmaniasis cases and Leishmania infected dogs in relation to environmental parameters to identify high-risk areas. All the human leishmaniasis cases (n = 82) reported to Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention from 2007 to 2014 and 85 Leishmania polymerase chain reaction positive dogs were included in this study. To analyse the data geographical information system (GIS) together with the Ecological Niche Model (ENM) were used. The most important findings of the study were: (i) Central plain of Thessaly together with the coast line and the western and eastern lowlands were identified as high-risk geographical areas. (ii) The highest percentage of the high-risk areas was found in low altitude (<200 m above sea level) and in irrigated and cultivated agricultural areas. (iii) A total of 20% of the human settlements was found in high-risk areas. (iv) The maximum temperature of the warmest month contributes the highest per cent to define both environmental niche profiles for humans and dogs. (v) The ENM could be a useful tool for the epidemiological study of leishmaniasis. Spatial analysis may allow the design of entomological studies and identify target population in order to implement preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,224 str. Trikalon,43100, Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: Alexios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannakopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,224 str. Trikalon,43100, Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: Constantina N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Tsokana
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention,Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: Danai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pervanidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,Aristotle University,Thessaloniki,Greece.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.affiliation: Research Division,Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace,Ethnikis Antistasis 173-175,55134 Thessaloniki,Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papaspyropoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production,Technological Education Institute of Larissa,Larissa, 41335,Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spyrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,224 str. Trikalon,43100, Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: Angeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodi Burriel
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention,Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: Annita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vakali
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention,Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hadjichristodoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,224 str. Trikalon,43100, Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Billinis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002980:Climate; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011156:Population Density; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GIS; Greece; Leishmania; dogs; human leishmaniasis cases