@article{Scholte_Carvalho_Malone_Utzinger_Vounatsou_2012, title={Spatial distribution of Biomphalaria spp., the intermediate host snails of Schistosoma mansoni, in Brazil}, volume={6}, url={https://www.geospatialhealth.net/gh/article/view/127}, DOI={10.4081/gh.2012.127}, abstractNote={Schistosomiasis mansoni remains an important parasitic disease of man, endemic in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South America and the Caribbean. The aetiological agent is the trematode <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em>, whereas aquatic snails of the genus <em>Biomphalaria</em> act as intermediate hosts in the parasite life cycle. In Brazil, the distribution of Biomphalaria spp. is closely associated with the occurrence of schistosomiasis. The purpose of this study was to map and predict the spatial distribution of the intermediate host snails of <em>S. mansoni</em> across Brazil. We assembled snail presenceonly data and used a maximum entropy approach, along with climatic and environmental variables to produce predictive risk maps. We identified a series of risk factors that govern the distribution of <em>Biomphalaria snails</em>. We find that high-risk areas for <em>B. glabrata</em> are concentrated in the regions of Northeast and Southeast and the northern part of the South region. <em>B. straminea</em> are found in the Northeast and Southeast regions, and <em>B. tenagophila</em> are concentrated in the Southeast and South regions. Our findings confirm that the presence of the intermediate host snails is correlated with the occurrence of schistosomiasis mansoni. The generated risk maps of intermediate host snails might assist the national control programme for spatial targeting of control interventions and to ultimately move towards schistosomiasis elimination in Brazil.}, number={3}, journal={Geospatial Health}, author={Scholte, Ronaldo G.C. and Carvalho, Omar S. and Malone, John B. and Utzinger, Jürg and Vounatsou, Penelope}, year={2012}, month={Sep.}, pages={S95-S101} }