MAPPING TRYPANOSOMIASIS HOTSPOTS: A GEOSPATIAL APPROACH TO DISEASE RISK ASSESSMENT IN YANKARI GAME RESERVE

Abstract

Trypanosomiasis, a parasitic vector-borne disease, poses a serious threat to both animal and human populations, especially in areas where the convergence of vectors and their hosts is easy. The Yankari Game Reserve in northeastern Nigeria is poorly understood as an environment with complex dynamics of Trypanosomiasis transmission. Using geospatial techniques, this paper comprehensively conducted an epidemiological risk assessment and mapping of Trypanosomiasis in the Yankari Game Reserve. This was achieved through combining Geospatial tools and methods such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Spatial Analysis. This way, acquired data sets were integrated and analysed to generate risk maps delineating areas of high Trypanosomiasis transmission potential. Results indicated a spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of tsetse flies and trypanosome infections within the Game Reserve – Yankari. Environmental variables, including elevation, vegetation cover and proximity to water bodies, are identified as important predictors of Trypanosomiasis risk. Risk map results provide invaluable insights that aid in focusing target interventions on curtailing and mitigating the spread of Trypanosomiasis in the Game Reserve Region. The study also demonstrated the versatility of geospatial tools and techniques in interpreting the epidemiology of Trypanosomiasis, as well as highlighting the relevance of integrating multidisciplinary approaches for disease management and surveillance in wildlife reserves. Notably, this will significantly improve our understanding of the dynamics of Trypanosomiasis transmission and enhance the decision-making process, thereby safeguarding the health of both animal and human populations within and beyond Yankari Game Reserve.