Spatiotemporal Variation and Hot Spot Detection of Visceral Leishmaniasis Disease in Kashi Prefecture, China.

Canjun Zheng,Dong Jiang,Zeng Li,Jingying Fu,Gang Lin,Xiao-Nong Zhou

doi:10.3390/ijerph15122784

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains a serious public health problem in China. To explore the temporal, spatial, and spatiotemporal characteristics of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the spatial and spatiotemporal clustering distribution and their relationships with the surrounding geographic environmental factors were analyzed. In this study, the average nearest-neighbor distance (ANN), Ripley’s K-function and Moran’s I statistics were used to evaluate spatial autocorrelation in the VL distribution of the existing case patterns. Getis–Ord Gi* was used to identify the hot-spot and cold-spot areas based on Geographic Information System (GIS), and spatiotemporal retrospective permutation scan statistics was used to detect the spatiotemporal clusters. The results indicated that VL continues to be a serious public health problem in Kashi Prefecture, China, particularly in the north-central region of Jiashi County, which is a relatively high-risk area in which hot spots are distributed. Autumn and winter months were the outbreak season for VL cases. The detection of spatial and spatiotemporal patterns can provide epidemiologists and local governments with significant information for prevention measures and control strategies.

Highlights

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains a serious public health problem in China
The findings of this study indicate that VL continues to be a serious public health problem in Kashi Prefecture, China, in the north-central region of Jiashi County, which is a relatively high-risk area in which hot spots are distributed
The results indicated that spatiotemporal clusters occurred in this region

Summary

Introduction

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains a serious public health problem in China. Two epidemiological types of VL are classified in western China based on the ecosystem and source of infection [1,2].The first one is a zoonotic type caused by Leishmania infantum and classified into two subtypes, namely, a mountainous subtype and a desert subtype. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains a serious public health problem in China. Two epidemiological types of VL are classified in western China based on the ecosystem and source of infection [1,2]. The first one is a zoonotic type caused by Leishmania infantum and classified into two subtypes, namely, a mountainous subtype and a desert subtype. The mountainous subtype is primarily distributed in Gansu and Sichuan Provinces, whereas the desert subtype is endemic in Xinjiang, western Inner. Northern Gansu in the north-western desert regions of China [2]. The second type is an anthroponosis that is endemic in the oases of the plains of Kashi Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous. Cases most frequently occur in young people under 20 years of age [3]. The transmission cycle is from human to human, and no animal host has been found (0–0.3%) [4]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion