A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of Africa

Rainfall and temperature are two of the major factors triggering malaria epidemics in warm semi-arid (desert-fringe) and high altitude (highland-fringe) epidemic risk areas. The ability of the mosquitoes to transmit Plasmodium spp. is dependent upon a series of biological features generally referre...

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Main Authors: Pietro Ceccato, Christelle Vancutsem, Robert Klaver, James Rowland, Stephen J. Connor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Tropical Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/595948
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author Pietro Ceccato
Christelle Vancutsem
Robert Klaver
James Rowland
Stephen J. Connor
author_facet Pietro Ceccato
Christelle Vancutsem
Robert Klaver
James Rowland
Stephen J. Connor
author_sort Pietro Ceccato
collection DOAJ
description Rainfall and temperature are two of the major factors triggering malaria epidemics in warm semi-arid (desert-fringe) and high altitude (highland-fringe) epidemic risk areas. The ability of the mosquitoes to transmit Plasmodium spp. is dependent upon a series of biological features generally referred to as vectorial capacity. In this study, the vectorial capacity model (VCAP) was expanded to include the influence of rainfall and temperature variables on malaria transmission potential. Data from two remote sensing products were used to monitor rainfall and temperature and were integrated into the VCAP model. The expanded model was tested in Eritrea and Madagascar to check the viability of the approach. The analysis of VCAP in relation to rainfall, temperature and malaria incidence data in these regions shows that the expanded VCAP correctly tracks the risk of malaria both in regions where rainfall is the limiting factor and in regions where temperature is the limiting factor. The VCAP maps are currently offered as an experimental resource for testing within Malaria Early Warning applications in epidemic prone regions of sub-Saharan Africa. User feedback is currently being collected in preparation for further evaluation and refinement of the VCAP model.
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language English
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series Journal of Tropical Medicine
spelling doaj-art-7eb297f2f4de4a15b52df1bf9ac500e32025-08-20T03:35:40ZengWileyJournal of Tropical Medicine1687-96861687-96942012-01-01201210.1155/2012/595948595948A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of AfricaPietro Ceccato0Christelle Vancutsem1Robert Klaver2James Rowland3Stephen J. Connor4The International Research Institute for Climate and Society, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, Lamont Campus, 61 Route 9W, Monell Building, Palisades, NY 10964-8000, USAThe International Research Institute for Climate and Society, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, Lamont Campus, 61 Route 9W, Monell Building, Palisades, NY 10964-8000, USAU.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Sioux Falls, SD 57198, USAU.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Sioux Falls, SD 57198, USASchool of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKRainfall and temperature are two of the major factors triggering malaria epidemics in warm semi-arid (desert-fringe) and high altitude (highland-fringe) epidemic risk areas. The ability of the mosquitoes to transmit Plasmodium spp. is dependent upon a series of biological features generally referred to as vectorial capacity. In this study, the vectorial capacity model (VCAP) was expanded to include the influence of rainfall and temperature variables on malaria transmission potential. Data from two remote sensing products were used to monitor rainfall and temperature and were integrated into the VCAP model. The expanded model was tested in Eritrea and Madagascar to check the viability of the approach. The analysis of VCAP in relation to rainfall, temperature and malaria incidence data in these regions shows that the expanded VCAP correctly tracks the risk of malaria both in regions where rainfall is the limiting factor and in regions where temperature is the limiting factor. The VCAP maps are currently offered as an experimental resource for testing within Malaria Early Warning applications in epidemic prone regions of sub-Saharan Africa. User feedback is currently being collected in preparation for further evaluation and refinement of the VCAP model.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/595948
spellingShingle Pietro Ceccato
Christelle Vancutsem
Robert Klaver
James Rowland
Stephen J. Connor
A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of Africa
Journal of Tropical Medicine
title A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of Africa
title_full A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of Africa
title_fullStr A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of Africa
title_full_unstemmed A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of Africa
title_short A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of Africa
title_sort vectorial capacity product to monitor changing malaria transmission potential in epidemic regions of africa
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/595948
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