LSTM Home > LSTM Research > LSTM Online Archive

The development of high resolution maps of tsetse abundance to guide interventions against human African trypanosomiasis in northern Uganda

Stanton, Michelle C., Esterhuizen, Johan, Tirados, Inaki ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9771-4880, Betts, Hannah and Torr, Steve ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9550-4030 (2018) 'The development of high resolution maps of tsetse abundance to guide interventions against human African trypanosomiasis in northern Uganda'. Parasites & Vectors, Vol 11, Issue 1, e340.

[img]
Preview
Text
para&vect_the development of high resolution maps.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (7MB) | Preview

Abstract

Background
Vector control is emerging as an important component of global efforts to control Gambian sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis, HAT). The deployment of insecticide-treated targets (“Tiny Targets”) to attract and kill riverine tsetse, the vectors of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, has been shown to be particularly cost-effective. As this method of vector control continues to be implemented across larger areas, knowledge of the abundance of tsetse to guide the deployment of “Tiny Targets” will be of increasing value. In this paper, we use a geostatistical modelling framework to produce maps of estimated tsetse abundance under two scenarios: (i) when accurate data on the local river network are available; and (ii) when river information is sparse.

Methods
Tsetse abundance data were obtained from a pre-intervention survey conducted in northern Uganda in 2010. River network data obtained from either digitised maps or derived from 30 m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) data as a proxy for ground truth data. Other environmental variables were derived from publicly-available resolution remotely sensed data (e.g. Landsat, 30 m resolution). Zero-inflated negative binomial geostatistical models were fitted to the abundance data using an integrated nested Laplace approximation approach, and maps of estimated tsetse abundance were produced.

Results
Restricting the analysis to traps located within 100 m of any river, positive associations were identified between the length of river and the minimum soil/vegetation moisture content of the surrounding area and daily fly catches, whereas negative associations were identified with elevation and distance to the river. The resulting models could accurately distinguish between traps with high and low fly catches (e.g. < 5 or > 5 flies/day), with a ROC-AUC (receiver-operating characteristic - area under the curve) greater than 0.9. Whilst the precise course of the river was not well approximated using the DEM data, the models fitted using DEM-derived river data performed similarly to those that incorporated the more accurate local river information.

Conclusions
These models can now be used to assist in the design, implementation and monitoring of tsetse control operations in northern Uganda and further can be used as a framework by which to undertake similar studies in other areas where Glossina fuscipes fuscipes spreads Gambian sleeping sickness.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 505 Diptera
WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries
WC Communicable Diseases > WC 20 Research (General)
WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 705 Trypanosomiasis
Faculty: Department: Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology
Biological Sciences > Vector Biology Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-2922-5
SWORD Depositor: JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User: Stacy Murtagh
Date Deposited: 15 Jun 2018 15:11
Last Modified: 19 Jun 2018 09:12
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/8765

Statistics

View details

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item