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Identifying Geographic Areas at Risk of Soil-transmitted Helminthes Infection Using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems: Boaco, Nicaragua as a Case StudySeveral types of intestinal nematodes, that can infect humans and specially school-age children living in poverty, develop part of their life cycle in soil. Presence and survival of these parasites in the soil depend on given environmental characteristics like temperature and moisture that can be inferred with remote sensing (RS) technology. Prevalence of diseases caused by these parasitic worms can be controlled and even eradicated with anthelmintic drug treatments and sanitation improvement. Reliable and updated identification of geographic areas at risk is required to implement effective public health programs; to calculate amount of drug required and to distribute funding for sanitation projects. RS technology and geographical information systems (GIS) will be used to analyze for associations between in situ prevalence and remotely sensed data in order to establish RS proxies of environmental parameters that indicate the presence of these parasits. In situ data on helminthisasis will be overlaid over an ecological map derived from RS data using ARC Map 9.3 (ESRI). Temperature, vegetation, and distance to bodies of water will be inferred using data from Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat TM and ETM+. Elevation will be estimated with data from The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Prevalence and intensity of infections are determined by parasitological survey (Kato Katz) of children enrolled in rural schools in Boaco, Nicaragua, in the communities of El Roblar, Cumaica Norte, Malacatoya 1, and Malacatoya 2). This study will demonstrate the importance of an integrated GIS/RS approach to define clusters and areas at risk. Such information will help to the implementation of time and cost efficient control programs and sanitation efforts.
Document ID
20120001477
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Abstract
Authors
Moreno, Max J. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Al-Hamdan, Mohammad Z. (Universities Space Research Association Huntsville, AL, United States)
Parajon, David G. (AMOS Health and Hope Managua, Nicaragua)
Rickman, Douglas L. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Luvall, Jeffrey (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Estes, Sue (Universities Space Research Association Huntsville, AL, United States)
Podest, Erika (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
September 14, 2011
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
M11-0811
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2011 NASA Public Health Applications Program
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Country: United States
Start Date: September 14, 2011
End Date: September 16, 2011
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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