Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic, water-related disease that is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, causing severe and chronic consequences especially among children. Here we study the spatial spread of this disease within a network of connected villages in the endemic region of the Lower Basin of the Senegal River, in Senegal. The analysis is performed by means of a spatially explicit metapopulation model that couples local-scale eco-epidemiological dynamics with spatial mechanisms related to human mobility (estimated from anonymized mobile phone records), snail dispersal and hydrological transport of schistosome larvae along the main water bodies of the region. Results show that the model produces epidemiological patterns consistent with field observations, and point out the key role of spatial connectivity on the spread of the disease. These findings underline the importance of considering different transport pathways in order to elaborate disease control strategies that can be effective within a network of connected populations.
Highlights
Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic water-related disease caused by parasitic worms that affects about 250 million individuals worldwide (WHO Expert Committee, 2002)
Water has a key role in schistosomiasis transmission and spread
In this work we have proposed a spatially explicit network model to describe schistosomiasis transmission dynamics in the endemic region of the Lower Basin of the Senegal River
Summary
Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic water-related disease caused by parasitic worms that affects about 250 million individuals worldwide (WHO Expert Committee, 2002). The analysis of the coupled dynamics of human, parasite and snail populations, together with the free-living stages involved in the parasite’s life cycle, are fundamental to describe and understand the transmission mechanisms of schistosomiasis. In the case of schistosomiasis, the movement of infectious agents can occur via various transport processes involving hosts and pathogens, including human mobility, larval transport along canals and streams, and snails dispersal through hydrological interconnections. On the human host side, social connections provide a pathway for adult parasite transport while people travel between endemic and non-endemic areas. This movement can involve very large spatial scales in ways that are often difficult to predict (Remais, 2010), and constitutes an effective transmission mechanism provided that disease-transmitting snails live in the visited areas.
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