TITLE:
Environmental Mapping of Potential Habitats for Anthropod Vectors of Trypanosomiasis in Northern Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Sadiq Abdullahi Yelwa, Kabiru Bilalu, Abdulhamid Yahuza, Nura Garba
KEYWORDS:
Trypanosomiasis, Habitat, Cost Effective Measures, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), El–Niño Southern Oscillations (ENSO)
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.9 No.9,
September
18,
2021
ABSTRACT: This paper presents analysis of a cost effective methodology using remotely
sensed data analysed within a geographical systems (GIS) environment for
mapping out potential habitats of anthropod
vectors responsible for trypanosomiasis in northern Nigeria. These geographical
locations are areas with high population of livestock in Nigeria. Animal Trypanosomiasis is considered as an arthropod-borne viral
disease which is endemic in about 37 countries of
the sub-Saharan Africa and in particular northern Nigeria. This anthropod-borne viral
disease remains a threat to both humans
and livestock in many communities, and the outbreak of such diseases is shown to relate to fluctuations in the changing
climate mostly
experienced whenever there are changes in global precipitation which also
relates to changes in sea surface temperatures otherwise known as “El Niňo Southern Oscillations” (ENSO). Monthly Satellite imageries in the form of Normalised Difference Vegetation Index
(NDVI) at 250 meters spatial resolution obtained from NASA-MODIS/CMD were subjected to principal component analysis utilizing the standardized
principal components within a GIS environment and supplemented with Digital
Elevation Model (DEM) data in the analysis. Results from the maps showed that pockets of probable habitats of these anthropod vectors responsible for
trypanosomiasis mostly located around forest islands characterized by dry
woodland and savanna, and in some cases around gallery forests and few lowland
and riverine areas. This study provides baseline information for policy makers
in Nigeria and other stakeholders as a cost effective measure for mapping
potential habitats for anthropod vectors responsible for trypanosomiasis in
Northern Nigeria. Further studies are encouraged so as to clearly understand the
magnitude and actual locations of the habitat of this vector and find ways of targeting
their locations for minimizing or even eradicating these vectors.