Analysing and predicting the occurrence of ticks and tick-borne diseases using GIS

摘要: INTRODUCTION For many years, scientific research has considered the relationships between landscape and human health. Increasing rates of environmental changes are dramatically altering patterns health at community, regional global scales. The emergence tick-borne diseases (TBD) illustrates impact that can have on Integration modern geoinformation technologies into epidemiology contribute significantly to development implementation new disease-surveillance tools. theory offers opportunity use as a key identification spatial temporal distribution disease risk. Key elements – including elevation, temperature, rainfall humidity influence presence, development, activity longevity pathogens, vectors zoonotic reservoirs infection, their interactions with humans (Meade, Florin & Gesler, 1988). same variables vegetation type disease. Remote sensing (RS) from aircraft satellites be used describe prevalence In addition, geographical information systems (GIS) provide tools for modelling spatially occurrence in space time. Ticks ideally suited GIS RS applications owing close ties ecosystem. This relationship is determined by: (1) host–parasite association (most important vector species three-host ticks); (2) specific requirements microclimate; (3) dependence clearly defined types plant associations which both reflect microclimatic conditions habitat occupied by ticks, also them.