Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors

Background Predicting anopheles vectors’ population densities and boundary shifts is crucial in preparing for malaria risks and unanticipated outbreaks. Although shifts in the distribution and boundaries of the major malaria vectors (Anopheles gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis) across Africa have been...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tonnang, Henri E.Z., Tchouassi, D., Juarez, H., Igweta, L., Djouaka, R.F.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75945
_version_ 1855523186855116800
author Tonnang, Henri E.Z.
Tchouassi, D.
Juarez, H.
Igweta, L.
Djouaka, R.F.
author_browse Djouaka, R.F.
Igweta, L.
Juarez, H.
Tchouassi, D.
Tonnang, Henri E.Z.
author_facet Tonnang, Henri E.Z.
Tchouassi, D.
Juarez, H.
Igweta, L.
Djouaka, R.F.
author_sort Tonnang, Henri E.Z.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Background Predicting anopheles vectors’ population densities and boundary shifts is crucial in preparing for malaria risks and unanticipated outbreaks. Although shifts in the distribution and boundaries of the major malaria vectors (Anopheles gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis) across Africa have been predicted, quantified areas of absolute change in zone of suitability for their survival have not been defined. In this study, we have quantified areas of absolute change conducive for the establishment and survival of these vectors, per African country, under two climate change scenarios and based on our findings, highlight practical measures for effective malaria control in the face of changing climatic patterns. Methods We developed a model using CLIMEX simulation platform to estimate the potential geographical distribution and seasonal abundance of these malaria vectors in relation to climatic factors (temperature, rainfall and relative humidity). The model yielded an eco-climatic index (EI) describing the total favourable geographical locations for the species. The EI values were classified and exported to a GIS package. Using ArcGIS, the EI shape points were clipped to the extent of Africa and then converted to a raster layer using Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation method. Generated maps were then transformed into polygon-based geo-referenced data set and their areas computed and expressed in square kilometers (km2). Results Five classes of EI were derived indicating the level of survivorship of these malaria vectors. The proportion of areas increasing or decreasing in level of survival of these malaria vectors will be more pronounced in eastern and southern African countries than those in western Africa. Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia appear most likely to be affected in terms of absolute change of malaria vectors suitability zones under the selected climate change scenarios. Conclusion The potential shifts of these malaria vectors have implications for human exposure to malaria, as recrudescence of the disease is likely to be recorded in several new areas and regions. Therefore, the need to develop, compile and share malaria preventive measures, which can be adapted to different climatic scenarios, remains crucial.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace75945
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
publishDateSort 2014
publisher Springer
publisherStr Springer
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace759452025-11-11T10:14:18Z Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors Tonnang, Henri E.Z. Tchouassi, D. Juarez, H. Igweta, L. Djouaka, R.F. climate change anopheles gambiae anopheles arabiensis Background Predicting anopheles vectors’ population densities and boundary shifts is crucial in preparing for malaria risks and unanticipated outbreaks. Although shifts in the distribution and boundaries of the major malaria vectors (Anopheles gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis) across Africa have been predicted, quantified areas of absolute change in zone of suitability for their survival have not been defined. In this study, we have quantified areas of absolute change conducive for the establishment and survival of these vectors, per African country, under two climate change scenarios and based on our findings, highlight practical measures for effective malaria control in the face of changing climatic patterns. Methods We developed a model using CLIMEX simulation platform to estimate the potential geographical distribution and seasonal abundance of these malaria vectors in relation to climatic factors (temperature, rainfall and relative humidity). The model yielded an eco-climatic index (EI) describing the total favourable geographical locations for the species. The EI values were classified and exported to a GIS package. Using ArcGIS, the EI shape points were clipped to the extent of Africa and then converted to a raster layer using Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation method. Generated maps were then transformed into polygon-based geo-referenced data set and their areas computed and expressed in square kilometers (km2). Results Five classes of EI were derived indicating the level of survivorship of these malaria vectors. The proportion of areas increasing or decreasing in level of survival of these malaria vectors will be more pronounced in eastern and southern African countries than those in western Africa. Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia appear most likely to be affected in terms of absolute change of malaria vectors suitability zones under the selected climate change scenarios. Conclusion The potential shifts of these malaria vectors have implications for human exposure to malaria, as recrudescence of the disease is likely to be recorded in several new areas and regions. Therefore, the need to develop, compile and share malaria preventive measures, which can be adapted to different climatic scenarios, remains crucial. 2014 2016-07-04T08:15:38Z 2016-07-04T08:15:38Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75945 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Tonnang, H., Tchouassi, D., Juarez, H., Igweta, L.K. & Djouaka, R.F. (2014). Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors. International Journal of Health Geographics, 13(1), 1.
spellingShingle climate change
anopheles gambiae
anopheles arabiensis
Tonnang, Henri E.Z.
Tchouassi, D.
Juarez, H.
Igweta, L.
Djouaka, R.F.
Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors
title Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors
title_full Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors
title_fullStr Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors
title_full_unstemmed Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors
title_short Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors
title_sort zoom in at african country level potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors
topic climate change
anopheles gambiae
anopheles arabiensis
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75945
work_keys_str_mv AT tonnanghenriez zoominatafricancountrylevelpotentialclimateinducedchangesinareasofsuitabilityforsurvivalofmalariavectors
AT tchouassid zoominatafricancountrylevelpotentialclimateinducedchangesinareasofsuitabilityforsurvivalofmalariavectors
AT juarezh zoominatafricancountrylevelpotentialclimateinducedchangesinareasofsuitabilityforsurvivalofmalariavectors
AT igwetal zoominatafricancountrylevelpotentialclimateinducedchangesinareasofsuitabilityforsurvivalofmalariavectors
AT djouakarf zoominatafricancountrylevelpotentialclimateinducedchangesinareasofsuitabilityforsurvivalofmalariavectors