02088nas a2200373   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653002500054653002100079653002000100653001900120653001900139653001700158100001400175700001600189700001700205700001100222700001400233700001500247700001500262700001200277700001000289700001200299700001200311700001400323700001500337700001300352245012100365856005900486300000900545490000700554520113900561022001401700       2024                            d  c06/202410aSpatial distribution10aMachine learning10aSchistosomiasis10aRemote sensing10aClimate change10aUrbanization1 aGlidden C1 aSingleton A1 aChamberlin A1 aTuan R1 aPalasio R1 aCaldeira R1 aMonteiro A1 aLwiza K1 aLiu P1 aSilva V1 aAthni T1 aSokolow S1 aMordecai E1 aDe Leo G00aClimate and urbanization drive changes in the habitat suitability of Schistosoma mansoni competent snails in Brazil.  uhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48335-9.pdf  a1-120 v153 a<p>Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Schistosoma parasites. Schistosoma are obligate parasites of freshwater Biomphalaria and Bulinus snails, thus controlling snail populations is critical to reducing transmission risk. As snails are sensitive to environmental conditions, we expect their distribution is significantly impacted by global change. Here, we used machine learning, remote sensing, and 30 years of snail occurrence records to map the historical and current distribution of forward-transmitting Biomphalaria hosts throughout Brazil. We identified key features influencing the distribution of suitable habitat and determined how Biomphalaria habitat has changed with climate and urbanization over the last three decades. Our models show that climate change has driven broad shifts in snail host range, whereas expansion of urban and peri-urban areas has driven localized increases in habitat suitability. Elucidating change in Biomphalaria distribution-while accounting for non-linearities that are difficult to detect from local case studies-can help inform schistosomiasis control strategies.</p>
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