1
|
Pearson AL, Tribby C, Brown CD, Yang JA, Pfeiffer K, Jankowska MM. Systematic review of best practices for GPS data usage, processing, and linkage in health, exposure science and environmental context research. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e077036. [PMID: 38307539 PMCID: PMC10836389 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is increasingly used in health research to capture individual mobility and contextual and environmental exposures. However, the tools, techniques and decisions for using GPS data vary from study to study, making comparisons and reproducibility challenging. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this systematic review were to (1) identify best practices for GPS data collection and processing; (2) quantify reporting of best practices in published studies; and (3) discuss examples found in reviewed manuscripts that future researchers may employ for reporting GPS data usage, processing and linkage of GPS data in health studies. DESIGN A systematic review. DATA SOURCES Electronic databases searched (24 October 2023) were PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022322166). ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Included peer-reviewed studies published in English met at least one of the criteria: (1) protocols involving GPS for exposure/context and human health research purposes and containing empirical data; (2) linkage of GPS data to other data intended for research on contextual influences on health; (3) associations between GPS-measured mobility or exposures and health; (4) derived variable methods using GPS data in health research; or (5) comparison of GPS tracking with other methods (eg, travel diary). DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS We examined 157 manuscripts for reporting of best practices including wear time, sampling frequency, data validity, noise/signal loss and data linkage to assess risk of bias. RESULTS We found that 6% of the studies did not disclose the GPS device model used, only 12.1% reported the per cent of GPS data lost by signal loss, only 15.7% reported the per cent of GPS data considered to be noise and only 68.2% reported the inclusion criteria for their data. CONCLUSIONS Our recommendations for reporting on GPS usage, processing and linkage may be transferrable to other geospatial devices, with the hope of promoting transparency and reproducibility in this research. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022322166.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amber L Pearson
- CS Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, MI, USA
| | - Calvin Tribby
- Department of Population Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Catherine D Brown
- Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Jiue-An Yang
- Department of Population Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Karin Pfeiffer
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Marta M Jankowska
- Department of Population Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Blake A, Hazel A, Jakurama J, Matundu J, Bharti N. Disparities in mobile phone ownership reflect inequities in access to healthcare. PLOS DIGITAL HEALTH 2023; 2:e0000270. [PMID: 37410708 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Human movement and population connectivity inform infectious disease management. Remote data, particularly mobile phone usage data, are frequently used to track mobility in outbreak response efforts without measuring representation in target populations. Using a detailed interview instrument, we measure population representation in phone ownership, mobility, and access to healthcare in a highly mobile population with low access to health care in Namibia, a middle-income country. We find that 1) phone ownership is both low and biased by gender, 2) phone ownership is correlated with differences in mobility and access to healthcare, and 3) reception is spatially unequal and scarce in non-urban areas. We demonstrate that mobile phone data do not represent the populations and locations that most need public health improvements. Finally, we show that relying on these data to inform public health decisions can be harmful with the potential to magnify health inequities rather than reducing them. To reduce health inequities, it is critical to integrate multiple data streams with measured, non-overlapping biases to ensure data representativeness for vulnerable populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Blake
- Biology Department, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ashley Hazel
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | | | | | - Nita Bharti
- Biology Department, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rerolle F, Dantzer E, Phimmakong T, Lover A, Hongvanthong B, Phetsouvanh R, Marshall J, Sturrock H, Bennett A. Characterizing mobility patterns of forest goers in southern Lao PDR using GPS loggers. Malar J 2023; 22:38. [PMID: 36732769 PMCID: PMC9893532 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04468-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), forest-going populations are considered high-risk populations for malaria and are increasingly targeted by national control programmes' elimination efforts. A better understanding of forest-going populations' mobility patterns and risk associated with specific types of forest-going trips is necessary for countries in the GMS to achieve their objective of eliminating malaria by 2030. METHODS Between March and November 2018, as part of a focal test and treat intervention (FTAT), 2,904 forest-goers were recruited in southern Lao PDR. A subset of forest-goers carried an "i-Got-U" GPS logger for roughly 2 months, configured to collect GPS coordinates every 15 to 30 min. The utilization distribution (UD) surface around each GPS trajectory was used to extract trips to the forest and forest-fringes. Trips with shared mobility characteristics in terms of duration, timing and forest penetration were identified by a hierarchical clustering algorithm. Then, clusters of trips with increased exposure to dominant malaria vectors in the region were further classified as high-risk. Finally, gradient boosting trees were used to assess which of the forest-goers' socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics best predicted their likelihood to engage in such high-risk trips. RESULTS A total of 122 forest-goers accepted carrying a GPS logger resulting in the collection of 803 trips to the forest or forest-fringes. Six clusters of trips emerged, helping to classify 385 (48%) trips with increased exposure to malaria vectors based on high forest penetration and whether the trip happened overnight. Age, outdoor sleeping structures and number of children were the best predictors of forest-goers' probability of engaging in high-risk trips. The probability of engaging in high-risk trips was high (~ 33%) in all strata of the forest-going population. CONCLUSION This study characterized the heterogeneity within the mobility patterns of forest-goers and attempted to further segment their role in malaria transmission in southern Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). National control programmes across the region can leverage these results to tailor their interventions and messaging to high-risk populations and accelerate malaria elimination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francois Rerolle
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Malaria Elimination Initiative, The Global Health Group, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Emily Dantzer
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Malaria Elimination Initiative, The Global Health Group, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Toula Phimmakong
- grid.415768.90000 0004 8340 2282Center for Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
| | - Andrew Lover
- grid.266683.f0000 0001 2166 5835Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA USA
| | - Bouasy Hongvanthong
- grid.415768.90000 0004 8340 2282Center for Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
| | - Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh
- grid.415768.90000 0004 8340 2282Center for Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
| | - John Marshall
- grid.47840.3f0000 0001 2181 7878Divisions of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Hugh Sturrock
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Malaria Elimination Initiative, The Global Health Group, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Adam Bennett
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Malaria Elimination Initiative, The Global Health Group, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA ,grid.415269.d0000 0000 8940 7771Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, PATH, Seattle, WA USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Morrison AC, Paz-Soldan VA, Vazquez-Prokopec GM, Lambrechts L, Elson WH, Barrera P, Astete H, Briesemeister V, Leguia M, Jenkins SA, Long KC, Kawiecki AB, Reiner RC, Perkins TA, Lloyd AL, Waller LA, Hontz RD, Stoddard ST, Barker CM, Kitron U, Elder JP, Rothman AL, Scott TW. Quantifying heterogeneities in arbovirus transmission: Description of the rationale and methodology for a prospective longitudinal study of dengue and Zika virus transmission in Iquitos, Peru (2014-2019). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0273798. [PMID: 36730229 PMCID: PMC9894416 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Current knowledge of dengue virus (DENV) transmission provides only a partial understanding of a complex and dynamic system yielding a public health track record that has more failures than successes. An important part of the problem is that the foundation for contemporary interventions includes a series of longstanding, but untested, assumptions based on a relatively small portion of the human population; i.e., people who are convenient to study because they manifest clinically apparent disease. Approaching dengue from the perspective of people with overt illness has produced an extensive body of useful literature. It has not, however, fully embraced heterogeneities in virus transmission dynamics that are increasingly recognized as key information still missing in the struggle to control the most important insect-transmitted viral infection of humans. Only in the last 20 years have there been significant efforts to carry out comprehensive longitudinal dengue studies. This manuscript provides the rationale and comprehensive, integrated description of the methodology for a five-year longitudinal cohort study based in the tropical city of Iquitos, in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. Primary data collection for this study was completed in 2019. Although some manuscripts have been published to date, our principal objective here is to support subsequent publications by describing in detail the structure, methodology, and significance of a specific research program. Our project was designed to study people across the entire continuum of disease, with the ultimate goal of quantifying heterogeneities in human variables that affect DENV transmission dynamics and prevention. Because our study design is applicable to other Aedes transmitted viruses, we used it to gain insights into Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission when during the project period ZIKV was introduced and circulated in Iquitos. Our prospective contact cluster investigation design was initiated by detecttion of a person with a symptomatic DENV infection and then followed that person's immediate contacts. This allowed us to monitor individuals at high risk of DENV infection, including people with clinically inapparent and mild infections that are otherwise difficult to detect. We aimed to fill knowledge gaps by defining the contribution to DENV transmission dynamics of (1) the understudied majority of DENV-infected people with inapparent and mild infections and (2) epidemiological, entomological, and socio-behavioral sources of heterogeneity. By accounting for factors underlying variation in each person's contribution to transmission we sought to better determine the type and extent of effort needed to better prevent virus transmission and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy C. Morrison
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Valerie A. Paz-Soldan
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Lousiana, United States of America
| | | | - Louis Lambrechts
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Insect-Virus Interactions Unit, Paris, France
| | - William H. Elson
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Patricia Barrera
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Genomics Laboratory, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, Lima, Peru
| | - Helvio Astete
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru
- Department of Entomology, United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru
| | - Veronica Briesemeister
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Mariana Leguia
- Genomics Laboratory, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, Lima, Peru
| | - Sarah A. Jenkins
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru
| | - Kanya C. Long
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Anna B. Kawiecki
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Robert C. Reiner
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - T. Alex Perkins
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Alun L. Lloyd
- Biomathematics Graduate Program and Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lance A. Waller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert D. Hontz
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru
| | - Steven T. Stoddard
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Barker
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Uriel Kitron
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Insect-Virus Interactions Unit, Paris, France
| | - John P. Elder
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Alan L. Rothman
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Thomas W. Scott
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hast M, Mharakurwa S, Shields TM, Lubinda J, Searle K, Gwanzura L, Munyati S, Moss WJ. Characterizing human movement patterns using GPS data loggers in an area of persistent malaria in Zimbabwe along the Mozambique border. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:942. [PMID: 36522643 PMCID: PMC9756631 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07903-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human mobility is a driver for the reemergence or resurgence of malaria and has been identified as a source of cross-border transmission. However, movement patterns are difficult to measure in rural areas where malaria risk is high. In countries with malaria elimination goals, it is essential to determine the role of mobility on malaria transmission to implement appropriate interventions. METHODS A study was conducted in Mutasa District, Zimbabwe, to investigate human movement patterns in an area of persistent transmission along the Mozambique border. Over 1 year, a convenience sample of 20 participants/month was recruited from active malaria surveillance cohorts to carry an IgotU® GT-600 global positioning system (GPS) data logger during all daily activities. Consenting participants were tested for malaria at data logger distribution using rapid antigen diagnostic tests and completed a survey questionnaire. GPS data were analyzed using a trajectory analysis tool, and participant movement patterns were characterized throughout the study area and across the border into Mozambique using movement intensity maps, activity space plots, and statistical analyses. RESULTS From June 2016-May 2017, 184 participants provided movement tracks encompassing > 350,000 data points and nearly 8000 person-days. Malaria prevalence at logger distribution was 3.7%. Participants traveled a median of 2.8 km/day and spent a median of 4.6 h/day away from home. Movement was widespread within and outside the study area, with participants traveling up to 500 km from their homes. Indices of mobility were higher in the dry season than the rainy season (median km traveled/day = 3.5 vs. 2.2, P = 0.03), among male compared to female participants (median km traveled/day = 3.8 vs. 2.0, P = 0.0008), and among adults compared to adolescents (median total km traveled = 104.6 vs. 59.5, P = 0.05). Half of participants traveled outside the study area, and 30% traveled into Mozambique, including 15 who stayed in Mozambique overnight. CONCLUSIONS Study participants in Mutasa District, Zimbabwe, were highly mobile throughout the year. Many participants traveled long distances from home, including overnight trips into Mozambique, with clear implications for malaria control. Interventions targeted at mobile populations and cross-border transmission may be effective in preventing malaria introductions in this region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Hast
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Sungano Mharakurwa
- grid.418347.d0000 0004 8265 7435Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe ,grid.442719.d0000 0000 8930 0245Africa University, Old Mutare, Mutare, Zimbabwe
| | - Timothy M. Shields
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Jailos Lubinda
- grid.414659.b0000 0000 8828 1230Telethon Kids Institute, Malaria Atlas Project, Nedlands, WA Australia
| | - Kelly Searle
- grid.17635.360000000419368657School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Lovemore Gwanzura
- grid.418347.d0000 0004 8265 7435Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Shungu Munyati
- grid.418347.d0000 0004 8265 7435Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - William J. Moss
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schaber KL, Kobayashi T, Hast M, Searle KM, Shields TM, Hamapumbu H, Lubinda J, Thuma PE, Lupiya J, Chaponda M, Munyati S, Gwanzura L, Mharakurwa S, Moss WJ, Wesolowski A. What Heterogeneities in Individual-level Mobility Are Lost During Aggregation? Leveraging GPS Logger Data to Understand Fine-scale and Aggregated Patterns of Mobility. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 107:1145-1153. [PMID: 36252797 PMCID: PMC9709031 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Human movement drives spatial transmission patterns of infectious diseases. Population-level mobility patterns are often quantified using aggregated data sets, such as census migration surveys or mobile phone data. These data are often unable to quantify individual-level travel patterns and lack the information needed to discern how mobility varies by demographic groups. Individual-level datasets can capture additional, more precise, aspects of mobility that may impact disease risk or transmission patterns and determine how mobility differs across cohorts; however, these data are rare, particularly in locations such as sub-Saharan Africa. Using detailed GPS logger data collected from three sites in southern Africa, we explore metrics of mobility such as percent time spent outside home, number of locations visited, distance of locations, and time spent at locations to determine whether they vary by demographic, geographic, or temporal factors. We further create a composite mobility score to identify how well aggregated summary measures would capture the full extent of mobility patterns. Although sites had significant differences in all mobility metrics, no site had the highest mobility for every metric, a distinction that was not captured by the composite mobility score. Further, the effects of sex, age, and season on mobility were all dependent on site. No factor significantly influenced the number of trips to locations, a common way to aggregate datasets. When collecting and analyzing human mobility data, it is difficult to account for all the nuances; however, these analyses can help determine which metrics are most helpful and what underlying differences may be present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn L. Schaber
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Tamaki Kobayashi
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Marisa Hast
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kelly M. Searle
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Timothy M. Shields
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Jailos Lubinda
- Telethon Kids Institute, Malaria Atlas Project, Nedlands, Australia
| | - Philip E. Thuma
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James Lupiya
- The Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
| | - Mike Chaponda
- The Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
| | - Shungu Munyati
- Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Lovemore Gwanzura
- Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe
- College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Sungano Mharakurwa
- Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe
- College of Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe
| | - William J. Moss
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Amy Wesolowski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pepey A, Obadia T, Kim S, Sovannaroth S, Mueller I, Witkowski B, Vantaux A, Souris M. Mobility evaluation by GPS tracking in a rural, low-income population in Cambodia. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266460. [PMID: 35559983 PMCID: PMC9106150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is an effective tool for quantifying individuals' mobility patterns and can be used to understand their influence on infectious disease transmission. In Cambodia, mobility measurements have been limited to questionnaires, which are of limited efficacy in rural environments. In this study, we used GPS tracking to measure the daily mobility of Cambodian forest goers, a population at high risk of malaria, and developed a workflow adapted to local constraints to produce an optimal dataset representative of the participants' mobility. We provide a detailed assessment of the GPS tracking and analysis of the data, and highlight the associated difficulties to facilitate the implementation of similar studies in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Pepey
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- * E-mail:
| | - Thomas Obadia
- Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Analytics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Département de Biologie Computationnelle, Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Saorin Kim
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Siv Sovannaroth
- National Centre for Parasitology Entomology and Malaria Control (CNM), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Ivo Mueller
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benoit Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Amélie Vantaux
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Marc Souris
- UMR Unité des Virus Emergents, UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ–IRD 190–Inserm 1207–IHU 5 Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lund AJ, Sokolow SH, Jones IJ, Wood CL, Ali S, Chamberlin A, Sy AB, Sam MM, Jouanard N, Schacht AM, Senghor S, Fall A, Ndione R, Riveau G, De Leo GA, López-Carr D. Exposure, hazard, and vulnerability all contribute to Schistosoma haematobium re-infection in northern Senegal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009806. [PMID: 34610025 PMCID: PMC8525765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infectious disease risk is driven by three interrelated components: exposure, hazard, and vulnerability. For schistosomiasis, exposure occurs through contact with water, which is often tied to daily activities. Water contact, however, does not imply risk unless the environmental hazard of snails and parasites is also present in the water. By increasing reliance on hazardous activities and environments, socio-economic vulnerability can hinder reductions in exposure to a hazard. We aimed to quantify the contributions of exposure, hazard, and vulnerability to the presence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium re-infection. Methodology/Principal findings In 13 villages along the Senegal River, we collected parasitological data from 821 school-aged children, survey data from 411 households where those children resided, and ecological data from all 24 village water access sites. We fit mixed-effects logistic and negative binomial regressions with indices of exposure, hazard, and vulnerability as explanatory variables of Schistosoma haematobium presence and intensity, respectively, controlling for demographic variables. Using multi-model inference to calculate the relative importance of each component of risk, we found that hazard (Ʃwi = 0.95) was the most important component of S. haematobium presence, followed by vulnerability (Ʃwi = 0.91). Exposure (Ʃwi = 1.00) was the most important component of S. haematobium intensity, followed by hazard (Ʃwi = 0.77). Model averaging quantified associations between each infection outcome and indices of exposure, hazard, and vulnerability, revealing a positive association between hazard and infection presence (OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.12, 1.97), and a positive association between exposure and infection intensity (RR 2.59–3.86, depending on the category; all 95% CIs above 1) Conclusions/Significance Our findings underscore the linkages between social (exposure and vulnerability) and environmental (hazard) processes in the acquisition and accumulation of S. haematobium infection. This approach highlights the importance of implementing both social and environmental interventions to complement mass drug administration. While the impacts of natural hazards tend to be described in terms of social determinants such as exposure and vulnerability, the risk for infectious disease is often expressed in terms of environmental determinants without fully considering the socio-ecological processes that put people in contact with infective agents of disease. In the case of schistosomiasis, risk is determined by human interactions with freshwater environments where schistosome parasites circulate between people and aquatic snails. In this study, we quantified the relative contributions of exposure, hazard, and vulnerability to schistosome re-infection among schoolchildren in an endemic region of northern Senegal. We find that hazard and vulnerability influence whether a child becomes infected, while exposure and hazard influence the burden of worms once infection is acquired. Increasing numbers of worms is known to be positively associated with increasing severity of disease. Our findings underscore the importance of evaluating social and environmental determinants of disease simultaneously; omitting measures of exposure, hazard or vulnerability may limit our understanding of risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J. Lund
- Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Susanne H. Sokolow
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Isabel J. Jones
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
| | - Chelsea L. Wood
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sofia Ali
- Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Andrew Chamberlin
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
| | - Alioune Badara Sy
- Centre de Recherche Biomédicale–Espoir Pour La Sante, Saint Louis, Sénégal
| | - M. Moustapha Sam
- Centre de Recherche Biomédicale–Espoir Pour La Sante, Saint Louis, Sénégal
| | - Nicolas Jouanard
- Centre de Recherche Biomédicale–Espoir Pour La Sante, Saint Louis, Sénégal
- Station d’Innovation Aquacole, Saint Louis, Sénégal
| | - Anne-Marie Schacht
- Centre de Recherche Biomédicale–Espoir Pour La Sante, Saint Louis, Sénégal
- University of Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Simon Senghor
- Centre de Recherche Biomédicale–Espoir Pour La Sante, Saint Louis, Sénégal
| | - Assane Fall
- Centre de Recherche Biomédicale–Espoir Pour La Sante, Saint Louis, Sénégal
| | - Raphael Ndione
- Centre de Recherche Biomédicale–Espoir Pour La Sante, Saint Louis, Sénégal
| | - Gilles Riveau
- Centre de Recherche Biomédicale–Espoir Pour La Sante, Saint Louis, Sénégal
- University of Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Giulio A. De Leo
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, United States of America
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - David López-Carr
- Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Schaber KL, Morrison AC, Elson WH, Astete-Vega H, Córdova-López JJ, Ríos López EJ, Flores WLQ, Santillan ASV, Scott TW, Waller LA, Kitron U, Barker CM, Perkins TA, Rothman AL, Vazquez-Prokopec GM, Elder JP, Paz-Soldan VA. The impact of dengue illness on social distancing and caregiving behavior. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009614. [PMID: 34280204 PMCID: PMC8354465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human mobility among residential locations can drive dengue virus (DENV) transmission dynamics. Recently, it was shown that individuals with symptomatic DENV infection exhibit significant changes in their mobility patterns, spending more time at home during illness. This change in mobility is predicted to increase the risk of acquiring infection for those living with or visiting the ill individual. It has yet to be considered, however, whether social contacts are also changing their mobility, either by socially distancing themselves from the infectious individual or increasing contact to help care for them. Social, or physical, distancing and caregiving could have diverse yet important impacts on DENV transmission dynamics; therefore, it is necessary to better understand the nature and frequency of these behaviors including their effect on mobility. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Through community-based febrile illness surveillance and RT-PCR infection confirmation, 67 DENV positive (DENV+) residents were identified in the city of Iquitos, Peru. Using retrospective interviews, data were collected on visitors and home-based care received during the illness. While 15% of participants lost visitors during their illness, 22% gained visitors; overall, 32% of all individuals (particularly females) received visitors while symptomatic. Caregiving was common (90%), particularly caring by housemates (91%) and caring for children (98%). Twenty-eight percent of caregivers changed their behavior enough to have their work (and, likely, mobility patterns) affected. This was significantly more likely when caring for individuals with low "health-related quality of well-being" during illness (Fisher's Exact, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our study demonstrates that social contacts of individuals with dengue modify their patterns of visitation and caregiving. The observed mobility changes could impact a susceptible individual's exposure to virus or a presymptomatic/clinically inapparent individual's contribution to onward transmission. Accounting for changes in social contact mobility is imperative in order to get a more accurate understanding of DENV transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn L. Schaber
- Program of Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Amy C. Morrison
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - William H. Elson
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Helvio Astete-Vega
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Jhonny J. Córdova-López
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Esther Jennifer Ríos López
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - W. Lorena Quiroz Flores
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | | | - Thomas W. Scott
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Lance A. Waller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Uriel Kitron
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Barker
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - T. Alex Perkins
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Alan L. Rothman
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Gonzalo M. Vazquez-Prokopec
- Program of Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - John P. Elder
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Valerie A. Paz-Soldan
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chen TA, Smith NG, Regan SD, Obasi EM, Anderson KF, Reitzel LR. Combining Global Positioning System (GPS) with saliva collection among sexual minority adults: A feasibility study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250333. [PMID: 33956852 PMCID: PMC8101753 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This is the first study, of which we are aware, to evaluate the feasibility and accessibility of simultaneous use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and saliva collection for biomarker assessment as an objective measure of stress physiology among sexual minority (lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and other non-heterosexual identities) individuals. The principal motivation for pairing GPS and saliva collection was to investigate how characteristics of the built and social environments along with participants' daily activity paths affect stress. This can contribute to a better understanding of health and health behaviors in the sexual minority community. METHODS A convenience sample of enrolled participants (N = 124) from Houston, Texas was asked to complete questionnaires, carry with them a GPS unit daily, and collect and store 6 samples of saliva at specific times across the span of a day prior to a second visit around one week later. RESULTS Of 124 participants, 16 participants (12.90%) provided no useable GPS data and 98 (79.03%) provided at least 4 days of data. More than three-fourths (n = 98, 79.03%) also provided complete saliva samples. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the simultaneous use of GPS and saliva collection to assess sexual minority individuals' activity paths and stress level is feasible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tzuan A. Chen
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nathan Grant Smith
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Seann D. Regan
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ezemenari M. Obasi
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Freeman Anderson
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Sociology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lorraine R. Reitzel
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Infectious disease research spans scales from the molecular to the global—from specific mechanisms of pathogen drug resistance, virulence, and replication to the movement of people, animals, and pathogens around the world. All of these research areas have been impacted by the recent growth of large-scale data sources and data analytics. Some of these advances rely on data or analytic methods that are common to most biomedical data science, while others leverage the unique nature of infectious disease, namely its communicability. This review outlines major research progress in the past few years and highlights some remaining opportunities, focusing on data or methodological approaches particular to infectious disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter M. Kasson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Molecular Physiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lenhart A, Morrison AC, Paz-Soldan VA, Forshey BM, Cordova-Lopez JJ, Astete H, Elder JP, Sihuincha M, Gotlieb EE, Halsey ES, Kochel TJ, Scott TW, Alexander N, McCall PJ. The impact of insecticide treated curtains on dengue virus transmission: A cluster randomized trial in Iquitos, Peru. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008097. [PMID: 32275653 PMCID: PMC7176142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue is one of the most important vector-borne diseases, resulting in an estimated hundreds of millions of infections annually throughout the tropics. Control of dengue is heavily dependent upon control of its primary mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. Innovative interventions that are effective at targeting the adult stage of the mosquito are needed to increase the options for effective control. The use of insecticide-treated curtains (ITCs) has previously been shown to significantly reduce the abundance of Ae. aegypti in and around homes, but the impact of ITCs on dengue virus (DENV) transmission has not been rigorously quantified. A parallel arm cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in Iquitos, Peru to quantify the impact of ITCs on DENV seroconversion as measured through plaque-reduction neutralization tests. Seroconversion data showed that individuals living in the clusters that received ITCs were at greater risk to seroconverting to DENV, with an average seroconversion rate of 50.6 per 100 person-years (PY) (CI: 29.9–71.9), while those in the control arm had an average seroconversion rate of 37.4 per 100 PY (CI: 15.2–51.7). ITCs lost their insecticidal efficacy within 6 months of deployment, necessitating re-treatment with insecticide. Entomological indicators did not show statistically significant differences between ITC and non-ITC clusters. It’s unclear how the lack of protective efficacy reported here is attributable to simple failure of the intervention to protect against Ae. aegypti bites, or the presence of a faulty intervention during much of the follow-up period. The higher risk of dengue seroconversion that was detected in the ITC clusters may have arisen due to a false sense of security that inadvertently led to less routine protective behaviors on the part of households that received the ITCs. Our study provides important lessons learned for conducting cluster randomized trials for vector control interventions against Aedes-transmitted virus infections. Dengue is one of the most important mosquito-borne diseases affecting humans, resulting in an estimated hundreds of millions of infections annually throughout the tropics. To control dengue, most public health programs use a variety of methods to kill the primary mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. Water holding containers that harbor larvae (and other immature stages) are treated or eliminated. During emergencies, large insecticide spray campaigns are deployed to kill infected adult mosquitoes. Innovative interventions that are effective at targeting adult mosquitoes in sustainable ways are needed to increase the options for control of dengue and other Aedes borne virus diseases. The use of insecticide-treated curtains (ITCs) has previously been shown to significantly reduce Ae. aegypti numbers in and around homes, but the impact of ITCs on dengue virus (DENV) transmission has not previously been quantified. Using a rigorous study design in which 10 clusters (~90 houses per cluster) were provided multiple ITCs to place in their homes was compared to 10 clusters of homes without ITCs. Assignment of which clusters received ITCs was randomized. Blood samples were obtained at 9-month intervals from residents living in all the clusters, so that people with serological evidence of a DENV infection could be identified by comparing paired samples. Seroconversion data showed that individuals living in the clusters that received ITCs were at greater risk to DENV seroconverting, with an average seroconversion rate of 50.6 per 100 person-years (PY) (CI: 29.9–71.9). Conversely, those in the control arm had an average seroconversion rate of 37.4 per 100 PY (CI: 15.2–51.7). ITCs lost their insecticidal efficacy within 6 months of deployment, necessitating re-treatment with insecticide. Ae. aegypti populations did not show statistically significant differences between ITC and non-ITC clusters. The reason for higher transmission in the ITC treated clusters could be attributable to failure of the curtains (loss of efficacy) and/or that the curtains were not sufficiently effective at protecting against mosquito bites. The higher risk of DENV seroconversion in ITC clusters may be due to a false sense of security that inadvertently led to less routine protective behaviors on the part of households that received the ITC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Lenhart
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Amy C. Morrison
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Department of Virology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit-6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
- * E-mail:
| | - Valerie A. Paz-Soldan
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Brett M. Forshey
- Department of Virology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit-6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Jhonny J. Cordova-Lopez
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Helvio Astete
- Department of Virology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit-6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - John P. Elder
- San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Moises Sihuincha
- Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Apoyo Iquitos, Peru
| | - Esther E. Gotlieb
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Eric S. Halsey
- Department of Virology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit-6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Tadeusz J. Kochel
- Department of Virology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit-6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Thomas W. Scott
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Neal Alexander
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J. McCall
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Apte A, Ingole V, Lele P, Marsh A, Bhattacharjee T, Hirve S, Campbell H, Nair H, Chan S, Juvekar S. Ethical considerations in the use of GPS-based movement tracking in health research - lessons from a care-seeking study in rural west India. J Glob Health 2020; 9:010323. [PMID: 31275566 PMCID: PMC6596313 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.09.010323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Apte
- KEM Hospital Research Centre (KEMHRC), Vadu Rural Health Program, India
| | - Vijendra Ingole
- KEM Hospital Research Centre (KEMHRC), Vadu Rural Health Program, India.,ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pallavi Lele
- KEM Hospital Research Centre (KEMHRC), Vadu Rural Health Program, India
| | - Andrew Marsh
- KEM Hospital Research Centre (KEMHRC), Vadu Rural Health Program, India.,Institute for International Programs, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tathagata Bhattacharjee
- KEM Hospital Research Centre (KEMHRC), Vadu Rural Health Program, India.,INDEPTH Network, East Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Harry Campbell
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburg, Scotland, UK
| | - Harish Nair
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburg, Scotland, UK
| | - Sarah Chan
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburg, Scotland, UK
| | - Sanjay Juvekar
- KEM Hospital Research Centre (KEMHRC), Vadu Rural Health Program, India
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Schaber KL, Paz-Soldan VA, Morrison AC, Elson WHD, Rothman AL, Mores CN, Astete-Vega H, Scott TW, Waller LA, Kitron U, Elder JP, Barker CM, Perkins TA, Vazquez-Prokopec GM. Dengue illness impacts daily human mobility patterns in Iquitos, Peru. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007756. [PMID: 31545804 PMCID: PMC6776364 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human mobility plays a central role in shaping pathogen transmission by generating spatial and/or individual variability in potential pathogen-transmitting contacts. Recent research has shown that symptomatic infection can influence human mobility and pathogen transmission dynamics. Better understanding the complex relationship between symptom severity, infectiousness, and human mobility requires quantification of movement patterns throughout infectiousness. For dengue virus (DENV), human infectiousness peaks 0–2 days after symptom onset, making it paramount to understand human movement patterns from the beginning of illness. Methodology and principal findings Through community-based febrile surveillance and RT-PCR assays, we identified a cohort of DENV+ residents of the city of Iquitos, Peru (n = 63). Using retrospective interviews, we measured the movements of these individuals when healthy and during each day of symptomatic illness. The most dramatic changes in mobility occurred during the first three days after symptom onset; individuals visited significantly fewer locations (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.017) and spent significantly more time at home (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.005), compared to when healthy. By 7–9 days after symptom onset, mobility measures had returned to healthy levels. Throughout an individual’s symptomatic period, the day of illness and their subjective sense of well-being were the most significant predictors for the number of locations and houses they visited. Conclusions/Significance Our study is one of the first to collect and analyze human mobility data at a daily scale during symptomatic infection. Accounting for the observed changes in human mobility throughout illness will improve understanding of the impact of disease on DENV transmission dynamics and the interpretation of public health-based surveillance data. Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne viral disease of humans worldwide. Due to the limited mobility of the mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus, human mobility can be a key to both understanding an individual’s exposure to the virus and explaining the spread of dengue throughout a population. Accurate disease models should include human mobility; however, changes in human movement patterns due to the presence of symptoms need to be taken into account. We quantified the impact of symptom presence on human mobility throughout the infectious period by analyzing a dataset on the daily movements of dengue virus infected individuals. Accounting for these changing patterns of mobility will improve understanding of the complex relationship between symptom severity, human movement, and dengue virus transmission. Furthermore, dengue transmission models that incorporate symptom-driven mobility changes can be used to evaluate scenarios and strategies for disease prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn L. Schaber
- Program of Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Valerie A. Paz-Soldan
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Amy C. Morrison
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - William H. D. Elson
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Alan L. Rothman
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Christopher N. Mores
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Helvio Astete-Vega
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Thomas W. Scott
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Lance A. Waller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Uriel Kitron
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - John P. Elder
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Barker
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - T. Alex Perkins
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Gonzalo M. Vazquez-Prokopec
- Program of Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hast M, Searle KM, Chaponda M, Lupiya J, Lubinda J, Sikalima J, Kobayashi T, Shields T, Mulenga M, Lessler J, Moss WJ. The use of GPS data loggers to describe the impact of spatio-temporal movement patterns on malaria control in a high-transmission area of northern Zambia. Int J Health Geogr 2019; 18:19. [PMID: 31426819 PMCID: PMC6701131 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-019-0183-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human movement is a driver of malaria transmission and has implications for sustainable malaria control. However, little research has been done on the impact of fine-scale movement on malaria transmission and control in high-transmission settings. As interest in targeted malaria control increases, evaluations are needed to determine the appropriateness of these strategies in the context of human mobility across a variety of transmission settings. Methods A human mobility study was conducted in Nchelenge District, a high-transmission setting in northern Zambia. Over 1 year, 84 participants were recruited from active malaria surveillance cohorts to wear a global positioning system data logger for 1 month during all daily activity. Participants completed a survey questionnaire and underwent malaria testing and treatment at the time of logger distribution and at collection 1 month later. Incident malaria infections were identified using polymerase chain reaction. Participant movement was characterized throughout the study area and across areas targeted for an indoor residual spraying (IRS) intervention. Participant movement patterns were compared using movement intensity maps, activity space plots, and statistical analyses. Malaria risk was characterized across participants using spatial risk maps and time spent away from home during peak vector biting hours. Results Movement data were collected from 82 participants, and 63 completed a second study visit. Participants exhibited diverse mobility patterns across the study area, including movement into and out of areas targeted for IRS, potentially mitigating the impact of IRS on parasite prevalence. Movement patterns did not differ significantly by season or age, but male participants traveled longer distances and spent more time away from home. Monthly malaria incidence was 22%, and malaria risk was characterized as high across participants. Participants with incident parasitemia traveled a shorter distance and spent more time away from home during peak biting hours; however, these relationships were not statistically significant, and malaria risk score did not differ by incident parasitemia. Conclusions Individual movement patterns in Nchelenge District, Zambia have implications for malaria control, particularly the effectiveness of targeted IRS strategies. Large and fine-scale population mobility patterns should be considered when planning intervention strategies across transmission settings. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12942-019-0183-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Hast
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Kelly M Searle
- University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mike Chaponda
- The Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
| | - James Lupiya
- The Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
| | - Jailos Lubinda
- Macha Research Trust, Choma District, Choma, Zambia.,Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jay Sikalima
- The Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia
| | - Tamaki Kobayashi
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Timothy Shields
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Justin Lessler
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William J Moss
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sharp TM, Lorenzi O, Torres-Velásquez B, Acevedo V, Pérez-Padilla J, Rivera A, Muñoz-Jordán J, Margolis HS, Waterman SH, Biggerstaff BJ, Paz-Bailey G, Barrera R. Autocidal gravid ovitraps protect humans from chikungunya virus infection by reducing Aedes aegypti mosquito populations. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007538. [PMID: 31344040 PMCID: PMC6657827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Public health responses to outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus have been stymied by the inability to control the primary vector, Aedes aegypti mosquitos. Consequently, the need for novel approaches to Aedes vector control is urgent. Placement of three autocidal gravid ovitraps (AGO traps) in ~85% of homes in a community was previously shown to sustainably reduce the density of female Ae. aegypti by >80%. Following the introduction of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) to Puerto Rico, we conducted a seroprevalence survey to estimate the prevalence of CHIKV infection in communities with and without AGO traps and evaluate their effect on reducing CHIKV transmission. Methods and findings Multivariate models that calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) showed that among 175 and 152 residents of communities with and without AGO traps, respectively, an estimated 26.1% and 43.8% had been infected with CHIKV (aPR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.37–0.91). After stratification by time spent in their community, protection from CHIKV infection was strongest among residents who reported spending many or all weekly daytime hours in their community:10.3% seropositive in communities with AGO traps vs. 48.7% in communities without (PR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.11–0.41). The age-adjusted rate of fever with arthralgia attributable to CHIKV infection was 58% (95% CI: 46–66%). The monthly number of CHIKV-infected mosquitos and symptomatic residents were diminished in communities with AGO traps compared to those without. Conclusions These findings indicate that AGO traps are an effective tool that protects humans from infection with a virus transmitted by Ae. aegypti mosquitos. Future studies should evaluate their protective effectiveness in large, urban communities. Aedes species mosquitos transmit pathogens of public health importance, including dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. No tools exist to control these mosquitos that sustainably and effectively prevent human infections. Autocidal gravid ovitraps (AGO traps) have been shown to sustainably reduce Aedes populations by >80%. After chikungunya virus was introduced into Puerto Rico, we conducted serosurveys in communities with and without AGO traps. We observed a two-fold lower prevalence of chikungunya virus infection among residents of communities with AGO traps compared to communities without. Among infected residents of communities with traps, a significant proportion likely had been infected while outside their community. These findings indicate that AGO traps are an effective tool that protects humans from infection with pathogens transmitted by Aedes mosquitos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tyler M. Sharp
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
- United States Public Health Service, Silver Springs, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Olga Lorenzi
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Brenda Torres-Velásquez
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Veronica Acevedo
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Janice Pérez-Padilla
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Aidsa Rivera
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Jorge Muñoz-Jordán
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Harold S. Margolis
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Stephen H. Waterman
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
- United States Public Health Service, Silver Springs, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brad J. Biggerstaff
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Gabriela Paz-Bailey
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Roberto Barrera
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Schmidt T, Kerr J, Kestens Y, Schipperijn J. Challenges in using wearable GPS devices in low-income older adults: Can map-based interviews help with assessments of mobility? Transl Behav Med 2019; 9:99-109. [PMID: 29554353 DOI: 10.1093/tbm/iby009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Daily mobility, defined as the ability to move oneself within one's neighborhood and regions beyond, is an important construct, which affects people as they age. Having a feasible and valid measure of daily mobility is essential to understand how it affects older adults' everyday life. Given the limitations of existing measures, new tools may be needed. The purpose of the study is to assess the feasibility and practicality of using the map-based questionnaire system VERITAS and GPS devices to measure daily mobility in older adults living in a deprived neighborhood in Denmark. Older adults were recruited from two senior housing areas, completed an interview using VERITAS and wore a GPS for 7 days. Feasibility of both methods was assessed by looking at practicalities, recruitment and compliance, and ability to measure daily mobility.Thirty-four older adults completed the VERITAS questionnaire, of which 23 wore the GPS device. Remembering to wear and charge the GPS was difficult for 48% participants, whereas remembering street names and drawing routes in VERITAS was difficult for two. Both the GPS and VERITAS were able to measure 10 out of the 13 identified components of mobility; however, VERITAS seemed more qualified at measuring daily mobility for this target population. The feasibility of assessing mobility may vary by specific context and study population being investigated. Wearable technology like a GPS may not be acceptable to low socioeconomic older adults, whereas interview led self-reported measurements like VERITAS might be more suitable for a low socioeconomic elderly population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Schmidt
- Research Unit for Active Living, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Jacqueline Kerr
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yan Kestens
- Montreal University Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jasper Schipperijn
- Research Unit for Active Living, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Long KC, Sulca J, Bazan I, Astete H, Jaba HL, Siles C, Kocher C, Vilcarromero S, Schwarz J, Escobedo-Vargas KS, Castro-Llanos F, Angulo L, Flores G, Ramal-Asayag C, Halsey ES, Hontz RD, Paz-Soldan VA, Scott TW, Lambrechts L, Morrison AC. Feasibility of feeding Aedes aegypti mosquitoes on dengue virus-infected human volunteers for vector competence studies in Iquitos, Peru. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007116. [PMID: 30753180 PMCID: PMC6388938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transmission of dengue virus (DENV) from humans to mosquitoes represents a critical component of dengue epidemiology. Examinations of this process have generally been hampered by a lack of methods that adequately represent natural acquisition of DENV by mosquitoes from humans. In this study, we assessed artificial and natural blood feeding methods based on rates of DENV infection and dissemination within mosquitoes for use in a field-based epidemiological cohort study in Iquitos, Peru. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Our study was implemented, stepwise, between 2011 and 2015. Participants who were 5 years and older with 5 or fewer days of fever were enrolled from ongoing clinic- and neighborhood-based studies on dengue in Iquitos. Wild type, laboratory-reared Aedes aegypti were fed directly on febrile individuals or on blood collected from participants that was either untreated or treated with EDTA. Mosquitoes were tested after approximately 14 days of extrinsic incubation for DENV infection and dissemination. A total of 58 participants, with viremias ranging from 1.3 × 10(2) to 2.9 × 10(6) focus-forming units per mL of serum, participated in one or more feeding methods. DENV infection and dissemination rates were not significantly different following direct and indirect-EDTA feeding; however, they were significantly lower for mosquitoes that fed indirectly on blood with no additive. Relative to direct feeding, infection rates showed greater variation following indirect-EDTA than indirect-no additive feeding. Dissemination rates were similar across all feeding methods. No differences were detected in DENV infection or dissemination rates in mosquitoes fed directly on participants with different dengue illness severity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using direct and indirect feeding methods for field-based studies on vector competence. Direct mosquito feeding is preferable in terms of logistical ease, biosecurity, and reliability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kanya C. Long
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Juan Sulca
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Isabel Bazan
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Helvio Astete
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Hugo L. Jaba
- Entomology Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Crystyan Siles
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Claudine Kocher
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Stalin Vilcarromero
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Julia Schwarz
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Karin S. Escobedo-Vargas
- Entomology Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Fanny Castro-Llanos
- Entomology Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Leslye Angulo
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Guadalupe Flores
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Cesar Ramal-Asayag
- Department of Internal Medicine, Loreto Regional Hospital “Felipe Santiago Arriola Iglesias,” Punchana, Iquitos, Peru
- School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Eric S. Halsey
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Robert D. Hontz
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Valerie A. Paz-Soldan
- Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Thomas W. Scott
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Louis Lambrechts
- Insect-Virus Interactions Group, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 2000, Paris, France
| | - Amy C. Morrison
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Morrison AC, Schwarz J, Long KC, Cordova J, Rios JE, Quiroz WL, Vizcarra SA, Hontz RD, Scott TW, Lambrechts L, Paz Soldan VA. Acceptability of Aedes aegypti blood feeding on dengue virus-infected human volunteers for vector competence studies in Iquitos, Peru. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007090. [PMID: 30742621 PMCID: PMC6386403 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of a study to investigate drivers of dengue virus (DENV) transmission dynamics, this qualitative study explored whether DENV-infected residents of Iquitos, Peru, considered it acceptable (1) to participate in direct mosquito feeding experiments (lab-reared Aedes aegypti mosquitoes fed directly on human volunteers) and (2) to provide blood meals indirectly (Ae. aegypti fed on blood drawn from participants by venipuncture). Twelve focus group discussions (FGDs; 94 participants: 82 females and 12 males) were conducted in January 2014 to explore six themes: (1) concerns and preferences regarding direct mosquito feeds and blood draws, (2) comprehension of and misconceptions about study procedures, (3) motivating factors for participation, (4) acceptability of children's participation, (5) willingness to provide multiple samples over several days, and (6) preference for direct feedings in homes versus the study laboratory. Results of FGDs, including one with 5 of 53 past direct mosquito feed participants, indicated that mosquito feeding procedures are acceptable to Iquitos residents when they are provided with information and a few key messages are properly reinforced. FGD participants' concerns focused primarily on safety issues rather than discomfort associated with mosquito bites. A video explaining the study dramatically increased comprehension of the study procedures. The majority of participants expressed a preference for mosquito feeding over venipuncture. Adults supported child participation if the children themselves assented. For most participants, home feedings were preferred over those in a laboratory. A major impetus for participation was the idea that results would contribute to an improved understanding of DENV transmission in Iquitos. Findings from our study will support future large-scale studies that employ direct mosquito feeding, a low-risk, non-invasive procedure that is experimentally superior to artificial mosquito feeding methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy C. Morrison
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Julia Schwarz
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kanya C. Long
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Jhonny Cordova
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Jennifer E. Rios
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - W. Lorena Quiroz
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - S. Alfonso Vizcarra
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Robert D. Hontz
- Virology and Emerging Infections Department, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Washington DC, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Thomas W. Scott
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Louis Lambrechts
- Insect-Virus Interactions Group, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité de Recherche Associée 3012, Paris, France
| | - Valerie A. Paz Soldan
- Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
España G, Hogea C, Guignard A, ten Bosch QA, Morrison AC, Smith DL, Scott TW, Schmidt A, Perkins TA. Biased efficacy estimates in phase-III dengue vaccine trials due to heterogeneous exposure and differential detectability of primary infections across trial arms. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210041. [PMID: 30682037 PMCID: PMC6347271 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccine efficacy (VE) estimates are crucial for assessing the suitability of dengue vaccine candidates for public health implementation, but efficacy trials are subject to a known bias to estimate VE toward the null if heterogeneous exposure is not accounted for in the analysis of trial data. In light of many well-characterized sources of heterogeneity in dengue virus (DENV) transmission, our goal was to estimate the potential magnitude of this bias in VE estimates for a hypothetical dengue vaccine. To ensure that we realistically modeled heterogeneous exposure, we simulated city-wide DENV transmission and vaccine trial protocols using an agent-based model calibrated with entomological and epidemiological data from long-term field studies in Iquitos, Peru. By simulating a vaccine with a true VE of 0.8 in 1,000 replicate trials each designed to attain 90% power, we found that conventional methods underestimated VE by as much as 21% due to heterogeneous exposure. Accounting for the number of exposures in the vaccine and placebo arms eliminated this bias completely, and the more realistic option of including a frailty term to model exposure as a random effect reduced this bias partially. We also discovered a distinct bias in VE estimates away from the null due to lower detectability of primary DENV infections among seronegative individuals in the vaccinated group. This difference in detectability resulted from our assumption that primary infections in vaccinees who are seronegative at baseline resemble secondary infections, which experience a shorter window of detectable viremia due to a quicker immune response. This resulted in an artefactual finding that VE estimates for the seronegative group were approximately 1% greater than for the seropositive group. Simulation models of vaccine trials that account for these factors can be used to anticipate the extent of bias in field trials and to aid in their interpretation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guido España
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Cosmina Hogea
- GlaxoSmithKline, Rockville, MD, United States of America
| | | | - Quirine A. ten Bosch
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Amy C. Morrison
- United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - David L. Smith
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Thomas W. Scott
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | | | - T. Alex Perkins
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Duncan DT, Chaix B, Regan SD, Park SH, Draper C, Goedel WC, Gipson JA, Guilamo-Ramos V, Halkitis PN, Brewer R, Hickson DA. Collecting Mobility Data with GPS Methods to Understand the HIV Environmental Riskscape Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Multi-city Feasibility Study in the Deep South. AIDS Behav 2018; 22:3057-3070. [PMID: 29797163 PMCID: PMC6076855 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2163-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
While research increasingly studies how neighborhood contexts influence HIV among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) populations, to date, no research has used global positioning system (GPS) devices, an innovative method to study spatial mobility through neighborhood contexts, i.e., the environmental riskscape, among a sample of Black MSM. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of collecting two-week GPS data (as measured by a pre- and post-surveys as well as objectively measured adherence to GPS protocol) among a geographically-diverse sample of Black MSM in the Deep South: Gulfport, MS, Jackson, MS, and New Orleans LA (n = 75). GPS feasibility was demonstrated including from survey items, e.g. Black MSM reported high ratings of pre-protocol acceptability, ease of use, and low levels of wear-related concerns. Findings from this study demonstrate that using GPS methods is acceptable and feasible among Black MSM in the Deep South.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dustin T Duncan
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Basile Chaix
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR_S 1136, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Paris, France
- Inserm, UMR_S 1136, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Paris, France
| | - Seann D Regan
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Su Hyun Park
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cordarian Draper
- Center for Research, Evaluation and Environmental & Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - William C Goedel
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - June A Gipson
- Center for Community-Based Programs, My Brother's Keeper, Inc, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Vincent Guilamo-Ramos
- Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health (CLAFH), Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Perry N Halkitis
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies, Rutgers University School of Public Health, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Russell Brewer
- Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - DeMarc A Hickson
- Center for Research, Evaluation and Environmental & Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc, Jackson, MS, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Fine-scale GPS tracking to quantify human movement patterns and exposure to leptospires in the urban slum environment. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006752. [PMID: 30169513 PMCID: PMC6143277 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human movement is likely an important risk factor for environmentally-transmitted pathogens. While epidemiologic studies have traditionally focused on household risk factors, individual movement data could provide critical additional information about risk of exposure to such pathogens. We conducted global positioning system (GPS) tracking of urban slum residents to quantify their fine-scale movement patterns and evaluate their exposures to environmental sources of leptospirosis transmission. Methodology/Principal findings We recruited participants from an ongoing cohort study in an urban slum in Brazil and tracked them for 24 hours at 30-second intervals. Among 172 subjects asked to participate in this cross-sectional study, 130 agreed to participate and 109 had good quality data and were included in analyses. The majority of recorded locations were near participant residences (87.7% within 50 meters of the house), regardless of age or gender. Similarly, exposure to environmental sources of leptospirosis transmission did not vary by age or gender. However, males, who have higher infection rates, visited a significantly larger area during the 24-hour period than did females (34,549m2 versus 22,733m2, p = 0.005). Four male participants had serologic evidence of Leptospira infection during the study period. These individuals had significantly larger activity spaces than uninfected males (61,310m2 vs 31,575m2, p = 0.006) and elevated exposure to rodent activity (p = 0.046) and trash deposits (p = 0.031). Conclusions/Significance GPS tracking was an effective tool for quantifying individual mobility in the complex urban slum environment and identifying risk exposures associated with that movement. This study suggests that in addition to source reduction, barrier interventions that reduce contact with transmission sources as slum residents move within their communities may be a useful prevention strategy for leptospirosis. Environmental features of urban slums including inadequate sanitation, substandard housing, and population crowding predispose residents to numerous infections. Despite this shared environment, not all slum residents, even within households, have equal risk of infection with specific pathogens and we do not know why. Individual movement data will help us better understand how slum residents interact with their environment. We conducted GPS tracking of 109 urban slum residents in Brazil to quantify their movement patterns and how these influence exposure to leptospirosis, an environmentally transmitted infection common in urban slums. Slum inhabitants, regardless of age and gender, spent most of their time close to home and had similar exposures to environmental features associated with leptospirosis infection. However, males visited a larger area on a daily basis, which may explain their higher leptospirosis risk. Based on screening of the slum population conducted at six-month intervals, four individuals (all male) became infected with Leptospira during our study. These individuals visited a significantly larger area than other males and had higher exposure to rodents and trash deposits than did other participants. GPS tracking allowed us to identify movement and movement-induced exposure as risk factors for leptospirosis infection and could provide similarly important information for other environmentally-transmitted pathogens.
Collapse
|
23
|
Weldon CT, Riley-Powell AR, Aguerre IM, Celis Nacimento RA, Morrison AC, Oberhelman RA, Paz-Soldan VA. "Zika is everywhere": A qualitative exploration of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards Zika virus among women of reproductive age in Iquitos, Peru. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006708. [PMID: 30161130 PMCID: PMC6135521 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus was reported in the rainforest city of Iquitos, Peru in 2016. The potential associations between Zika and fetal neurological disorders were reported extensively in the media regarding neighboring Brazil, and led to great concern about the impact Zika could have on people's health in Iquitos when it arrived. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and preventative practices related to Zika virus and its transmission among women of childbearing age in Iquitos, Peru. Six focus group discussions with 46 women of ages 20-35 from an Iquitos district with confirmed Zika cases were conducted to explore: 1) knowledge of Zika transmission, its symptoms, and treatment, 2) attitudes regarding Zika, including perceptions of risk for and severity of Zika, and 3) preventative practices, including awareness of health promotion activities. Participants were knowledgeable about Zika symptoms and knew it was transmitted by mosquitoes, and about half had heard about the association between Zika and microcephaly, but most lacked knowledge about the associated neurological disorders in adults, its sexual transmission, and ways to prevent infection. They expressed concern for pregnant women exposed to the virus and the impact on the fetus. Participants felt at risk of contracting the Zika virus, yet had not changed preventive practices, possibly in part because their perception of the severity of this disease was low. This study reveals knowledge gaps that could be addressed via health promotion messages that might improve prevention practices to help community members protect themselves from Zika virus during this outbreak.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline T. Weldon
- Tropical Medicine Department, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Amy R. Riley-Powell
- Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Ines M. Aguerre
- Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | | | - Amy C. Morrison
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Richard A. Oberhelman
- Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Valerie A. Paz-Soldan
- Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- Asociación Benéfica PRISMA, Lima, Peru
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Hemming-Schroeder E, Lo E, Salazar C, Puente S, Yan G. Landscape Genetics: A Toolbox for Studying Vector-Borne Diseases. Front Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
|
25
|
Perkins TA, Paz-Soldan VA, Stoddard ST, Morrison AC, Forshey BM, Long KC, Halsey ES, Kochel TJ, Elder JP, Kitron U, Scott TW, Vazquez-Prokopec GM. Calling in sick: impacts of fever on intra-urban human mobility. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2016.0390. [PMID: 27412286 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogens inflict a wide variety of disease manifestations on their hosts, yet the impacts of disease on the behaviour of infected hosts are rarely studied empirically and are seldom accounted for in mathematical models of transmission dynamics. We explored the potential impacts of one of the most common disease manifestations, fever, on a key determinant of pathogen transmission, host mobility, in residents of the Amazonian city of Iquitos, Peru. We did so by comparing two groups of febrile individuals (dengue-positive and dengue-negative) with an afebrile control group. A retrospective, semi-structured interview allowed us to quantify multiple aspects of mobility during the two-week period preceding each interview. We fitted nested models of each aspect of mobility to data from interviews and compared models using likelihood ratio tests to determine whether there were statistically distinguishable differences in mobility attributable to fever or its aetiology. Compared with afebrile individuals, febrile study participants spent more time at home, visited fewer locations, and, in some cases, visited locations closer to home and spent less time at certain types of locations. These multifaceted impacts are consistent with the possibility that disease-mediated changes in host mobility generate dynamic and complex changes in host contact network structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Alex Perkins
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Valerie A Paz-Soldan
- Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Steven T Stoddard
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Amy C Morrison
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Kanya C Long
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA Department of Biology, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, USA
| | - Eric S Halsey
- United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru
| | | | - John P Elder
- Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Uriel Kitron
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas W Scott
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gonzalo M Vazquez-Prokopec
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Tangena JAA, Thammavong P, Lindsay SW, Brey PT. Risk of exposure to potential vector mosquitoes for rural workers in Northern Lao PDR. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005802. [PMID: 28742854 PMCID: PMC5544251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One major consequence of economic development in South-East Asia has been a rapid expansion of rubber plantations, in which outbreaks of dengue and malaria have occurred. Here we explored the difference in risk of exposure to potential dengue, Japanese encephalitis (JE), and malaria vectors between rubber workers and those engaged in traditional forest activities in northern Laos PDR. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Adult mosquitoes were collected for nine months in secondary forests, mature and immature rubber plantations, and villages. Human behavior data were collected using rapid participatory rural appraisals and surveys. Exposure risk was assessed by combining vector and human behavior and calculating the basic reproduction number (R0) in different typologies. Compared to those that stayed in the village, the risk of dengue vector exposure was higher for those that visited the secondary forests during the day (odds ratio (OR) 36.0), for those living and working in rubber plantations (OR 16.2) and for those that tapped rubber (OR 3.2). Exposure to JE vectors was also higher in the forest (OR 1.4) and, similar when working (OR 1.0) and living in the plantations (OR 0.8). Exposure to malaria vectors was greater in the forest (OR 1.3), similar when working in the plantations (OR 0.9) and lower when living in the plantations (OR 0.6). R0 for dengue was >2.8 for all habitats surveyed, except villages where R0≤0.06. The main malaria vector in all habitats was Anopheles maculatus s.l. in the rainy season and An. minimus s.l. in the dry season. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The highest risk of exposure to vector mosquitoes occurred when people visit natural forests. However, since rubber workers spend long periods in the rubber plantations, their risk of exposure is increased greatly compared to those who temporarily enter natural forests or remain in the village. This study highlights the necessity of broadening mosquito control to include rubber plantations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie-Anne A. Tangena
- Department of Medical Entomology & Biology of Disease Vectors, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Phoutmany Thammavong
- Department of Medical Entomology & Biology of Disease Vectors, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR
| | - Steve W. Lindsay
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul T. Brey
- Department of Medical Entomology & Biology of Disease Vectors, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Searle KM, Lubinda J, Hamapumbu H, Shields TM, Curriero FC, Smith DL, Thuma PE, Moss WJ. Characterizing and quantifying human movement patterns using GPS data loggers in an area approaching malaria elimination in rural southern Zambia. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:170046. [PMID: 28573009 PMCID: PMC5451810 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
In areas approaching malaria elimination, human mobility patterns are important in determining the proportion of malaria cases that are imported or the result of low-level, endemic transmission. A convenience sample of participants enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study in the catchment area of Macha Hospital in Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia, was selected to carry a GPS data logger for one month from October 2013 to August 2014. Density maps and activity space plots were created to evaluate seasonal movement patterns. Time spent outside the household compound during anopheline biting times, and time spent in malaria high- and low-risk areas, were calculated. There was evidence of seasonal movement patterns, with increased long-distance movement during the dry season. A median of 10.6% (interquartile range (IQR): 5.8-23.8) of time was spent away from the household, which decreased during anopheline biting times to 5.6% (IQR: 1.7-14.9). The per cent of time spent in malaria high-risk areas for participants residing in high-risk areas ranged from 83.2% to 100%, but ranged from only 0.0% to 36.7% for participants residing in low-risk areas. Interventions targeted at the household may be more effective because of restricted movement during the rainy season, with limited movement between high- and low-risk areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M. Searle
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Author for correspondence: Kelly M. Searle e-mail:
| | | | | | - Timothy M. Shields
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Frank C. Curriero
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David L. Smith
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - William J. Moss
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Falcón-Lezama JA, Santos-Luna R, Román-Pérez S, Martínez-Vega RA, Herrera-Valdez MA, Kuri-Morales ÁF, Adams B, Kuri-Morales PA, López-Cervantes M, Ramos-Castañeda J. Analysis of spatial mobility in subjects from a Dengue endemic urban locality in Morelos State, Mexico. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172313. [PMID: 28225820 PMCID: PMC5321279 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mathematical models and field data suggest that human mobility is an important driver for Dengue virus transmission. Nonetheless little is known on this matter due the lack of instruments for precise mobility quantification and study design difficulties. MATERIALS AND METHODS We carried out a cohort-nested, case-control study with 126 individuals (42 cases, 42 intradomestic controls and 42 population controls) with the goal of describing human mobility patterns of recently Dengue virus-infected subjects, and comparing them with those of non-infected subjects living in an urban endemic locality. Mobility was quantified using a GPS-data logger registering waypoints at 60-second intervals for a minimum of 15 natural days. RESULTS Although absolute displacement was highly biased towards the intradomestic and peridomestic areas, occasional displacements exceeding a 100-Km radius from the center of the studied locality were recorded for all three study groups and individual displacements were recorded traveling across six states from central Mexico. Additionally, cases had a larger number of visits out of the municipality´s administrative limits when compared to intradomestic controls (cases: 10.4 versus intradomestic controls: 2.9, p = 0.0282). We were able to identify extradomestic places within and out of the locality that were independently visited by apparently non-related infected subjects, consistent with houses, working and leisure places. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study show that human mobility in a small urban setting exceeded that considered by local health authority's administrative limits, and was different between recently infected and non-infected subjects living in the same household. These observations provide important insights about the role that human mobility may have in Dengue virus transmission and persistence across endemic geographic areas that need to be taken into account when planning preventive and control measures. Finally, these results are a valuable reference when setting the parameters for future mathematical modeling studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Abelardo Falcón-Lezama
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - René Santos-Luna
- Subdirección de Geografía Médica, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Susana Román-Pérez
- Subdirección de Geografía Médica, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Ruth Aralí Martínez-Vega
- OLFIS, Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia
- Universidad de Santander, Campus Universitario, Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia
| | | | | | - Ben Adams
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | | | - Malaquías López-Cervantes
- Unidad de Proyectos Especiales de Investigación Sociomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - José Ramos-Castañeda
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
- Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas-Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Rudolph AE, Bazzi AR, Fish S. Ethical considerations and potential threats to validity for three methods commonly used to collect geographic information in studies among people who use drugs. Addict Behav 2016; 61:84-90. [PMID: 27249807 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2016] [Revised: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Analyses with geographic data can be used to identify "hot spots" and "health service deserts", examine associations between proximity to services and their use, and link contextual factors with individual-level data to better understand how environmental factors influence behaviors. Technological advancements in methods for collecting this information can improve the accuracy of contextually-relevant information; however, they have outpaced the development of ethical standards and guidance, particularly for research involving populations engaging in illicit/stigmatized behaviors. Thematic analysis identified ethical considerations for collecting geographic data using different methods and the extent to which these concerns could influence study compliance and data validity. METHODS In-depth interviews with 15 Baltimore residents (6 recruited via flyers and 9 via peer-referral) reporting recent drug use explored comfort with and ethics of three methods for collecting geographic information: (1) surveys collecting self-reported addresses/cross-streets, (2) surveys using web-based maps to find/confirm locations, and (3) geographical momentary assessments (GMA), which collect spatiotemporally referenced behavioral data. RESULTS Survey methods for collecting geographic data (i.e., addresses/cross-streets and web-based maps) were generally acceptable; however, participants raised confidentiality concerns regarding exact addresses for illicit/stigmatized behaviors. Concerns specific to GMA included burden of carrying/safeguarding phones and responding to survey prompts, confidentiality, discomfort with being tracked, and noncompliance with study procedures. Overall, many felt that confidentiality concerns could influence the accuracy of location information collected for sensitive behaviors and study compliance. CONCLUSIONS Concerns raised by participants could result in differential study participation and/or study compliance and questionable accuracy/validity of location data for sensitive behaviors.
Collapse
|
30
|
Duncan DT, Kapadia F, Regan SD, Goedel WC, Levy MD, Barton SC, Friedman SR, Halkitis PN. Feasibility and Acceptability of Global Positioning System (GPS) Methods to Study the Spatial Contexts of Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City: A P18 Cohort Sub-Study. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147520. [PMID: 26918766 PMCID: PMC4769145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background No global positioning system (GPS) technology study has been conducted among a sample of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM). As such, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using GPS methods to understand the spatial context of substance use and sexual risk behaviors among a sample of YMSM in New York City, a high-risk population. Methods Data came from a subsample of the ongoing P18 Cohort Study (n = 75). GPS feasibility and acceptability among participants was measured with: 1) a pre- and post-survey and 2) adherence to the GPS protocol which included returning the GPS device, self-report of charging and carrying the GPS device as well as objective data analyzed from the GPS devices. Analyses of the feasibility surveys were treated as repeated measures as each participant had a pre- and post-feasibility survey. When comparing the similar GPS survey items asked at baseline and at follow-up, we present percentages and associated p-values based on chi-square statistics. Results Participants reported high ratings of pre-GPS acceptability, ease of use, and low levels of wear-related concerns in addition to few concerns related to safety, loss, or appearance, which were maintained after baseline GPS feasibility data collection. The GPS return rate was 100%. Most participants charged and carried the GPS device on most days. Of the total of 75 participants with GPS data, 75 (100%) have at least one hour of GPS data for one day and 63 (84%) had at least one hour on all 7 days. Conclusions Results from this pilot study demonstrate that utilizing GPS methods among YMSM is feasible and acceptable. GPS devices may be used in spatial epidemiology research in YMSM populations to understand place-based determinants of health such as substance use and sexual risk behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dustin T. Duncan
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Population Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, United States of America
- Center for Data Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Farzana Kapadia
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Population Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Seann D. Regan
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - William C. Goedel
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Michael D. Levy
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Staci C. Barton
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Samuel R. Friedman
- Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, United States of America
- Institute of Infectious Disease Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Perry N. Halkitis
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Population Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
The science of epidemiology has been developed over the last 200 years, using traditional methods to describe the distribution of diseases by person, place, and time. However, in the last several decades, a new set of technologies has become available, based on the methods of computer sciences, systems biology, and the extraordinary powers of the Internet. Technological and analytical advances can enhance traditional epidemiological methods to study the emergence, epidemiology, and transmission dynamics of viruses and associated diseases. Social media are increasingly used to detect the emergence and geographic spread of viral disease outbreaks. Large-scale population movement can be estimated using satellite imagery and mobile phone use, and fine-scale population movement can be tracked using global positioning system loggers, allowing estimation of transmission pathways and contact patterns at different spatial scales. Advances in genomic sequencing and bioinformatics permit more accurate determination of viral evolution and the construction of transmission networks, also at different spatial and temporal scales. Phylodynamics links evolutionary and epidemiological processes to better understand viral transmission patterns. More complex and realistic mathematical models of virus transmission within human and animal populations, including detailed agent-based models, are increasingly used to predict transmission patterns and the impact of control interventions such as vaccination and quarantine. In this chapter, we will briefly review traditional epidemiological methods and then describe the new technologies with some examples of their application.
Collapse
|
32
|
Paz-Soldán VA, Morrison AC, Cordova Lopez JJ, Lenhart A, Scott TW, Elder JP, Sihuincha M, Kochel TJ, Halsey ES, Astete H, McCall PJ. Dengue Knowledge and Preventive Practices in Iquitos, Peru. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 93:1330-1337. [PMID: 26503276 PMCID: PMC4674254 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of a cluster-randomized trial to evaluate insecticide-treated curtains for dengue prevention in Iquitos, Peru, we surveyed 1,333 study participants to examine knowledge and reported practices associated with dengue and its prevention. Entomological data from 1,133 of these households were linked to the survey. Most participants knew that dengue was transmitted by mosquito bite (85.6%), but only few (18.6%) knew that dengue vectors bite during daytime. Most commonly recognized dengue symptoms were fever (86.6%), headache (76.4%), and muscle/joint pain (67.9%). Most commonly reported correct practices for mosquito control were cleaning homes (61.6%), using insecticide sprays (23%), and avoiding having standing water at home (12.3%). Higher education was associated with higher knowledge about dengue, including transmission and vector control. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with increased reported use of preventive practices requiring money expenditure. We were less likely to find Aedes aegypti eggs, larvae, or pupae in households that had < 5-year-old children at home. Although dengue has been transmitted in Iquitos since the 1990s and the Regional Health Authority routinely fumigates households, treats domestic water containers with larvicide, and issues health education messages through mass media, knowledge of dengue transmission and household practices for prevention could be improved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valerie A. Paz-Soldán
- *Address correspondence to Valerie A. Paz-Soldán, Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112. E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Perkins TA, Garcia AJ, Paz-Soldán VA, Stoddard ST, Reiner RC, Vazquez-Prokopec G, Bisanzio D, Morrison AC, Halsey ES, Kochel TJ, Smith DL, Kitron U, Scott TW, Tatem AJ. Theory and data for simulating fine-scale human movement in an urban environment. J R Soc Interface 2015; 11:rsif.2014.0642. [PMID: 25142528 PMCID: PMC4233749 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual-based models of infectious disease transmission depend on accurate quantification of fine-scale patterns of human movement. Existing models of movement either pertain to overly coarse scales, simulate some aspects of movement but not others, or were designed specifically for populations in developed countries. Here, we propose a generalizable framework for simulating the locations that an individual visits, time allocation across those locations, and population-level variation therein. As a case study, we fit alternative models for each of five aspects of movement (number, distance from home and types of locations visited; frequency and duration of visits) to interview data from 157 residents of the city of Iquitos, Peru. Comparison of alternative models showed that location type and distance from home were significant determinants of the locations that individuals visited and how much time they spent there. We also found that for most locations, residents of two neighbourhoods displayed indistinguishable preferences for visiting locations at various distances, despite differing distributions of locations around those neighbourhoods. Finally, simulated patterns of time allocation matched the interview data in a number of ways, suggesting that our framework constitutes a sound basis for simulating fine-scale movement and for investigating factors that influence it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Alex Perkins
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Andres J Garcia
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Valerie A Paz-Soldán
- Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Steven T Stoddard
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Robert C Reiner
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Donal Bisanzio
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Amy C Morrison
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Eric S Halsey
- United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru
| | | | - David L Smith
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Uriel Kitron
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas W Scott
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Andrew J Tatem
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Oliver N, Matic A, Frias-Martinez E. Mobile Network Data for Public Health: Opportunities and Challenges. Front Public Health 2015; 3:189. [PMID: 26301211 PMCID: PMC4528087 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2015.00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The ubiquity of mobile phones worldwide is generating an unprecedented amount of human behavioral data both at an individual and aggregated levels. The study of this data as a rich source of information about human behavior emerged almost a decade ago. Since then, it has grown into a fertile area of research named computational social sciences with a wide variety of applications in different fields such as social networks, urban and transport planning, economic development, emergency relief, and, recently, public health. In this paper, we briefly describe the state of the art on using mobile phone data for public health, and present the opportunities and challenges that this kind of data presents for public health.
Collapse
|
35
|
Duncan DT, Regan SD, Shelley D, Day K, Ruff RR, Al-Bayan M, Elbel B. Application of global positioning system methods for the study of obesity and hypertension risk among low-income housing residents in New York City: a spatial feasibility study. GEOSPATIAL HEALTH 2014; 9:57-70. [PMID: 25545926 PMCID: PMC4767499 DOI: 10.4081/gh.2014.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using global positioning system (GPS) methods to understand the spatial context of obesity and hypertension risk among a sample of low-income housing residents in New York City (n = 120). GPS feasibility among participants was measured with a pre- and post-survey as well as adherence to a protocol which included returning the GPS device as well as objective data analysed from the GPS devices. We also conducted qualitative interviews with 21 of the participants. Most of the sample was overweight (26.7%) or obese (40.0%). Almost one-third (30.8%) was pre-hypertensive and 39.2% was hypertensive. Participants reported high ratings of GPS acceptability, ease of use and low levels of wear-related concerns in addition to few concerns related to safety, loss or appearance, which were maintained after the baseline GPS feasibility data collection. Results show that GPS feasibility increased over time. The overall GPS return rate was 95.6%. Out of the total of 114 participants with GPS, 112 (98.2%) delivered at least one hour of GPS data for one day and 84 (73.7%) delivered at least one hour on 7 or more days. The qualitative interviews indicated that overall, participants enjoyed wearing the GPS devices, that they were easy to use and charge and that they generally forgot about the GPS device when wearing it daily. Findings demonstrate that GPS devices may be used in spatial epidemiology research in low-income and potentially other key vulnerable populations to understand geospatial determinants of obesity, hypertension and other diseases that these populations disproportionately experience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dustin T. Duncan
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
- Global Institute of Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
- Population Center, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Seann D. Regan
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Donna Shelley
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
- Global Institute of Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Kristen Day
- Department of Technology, Culture and Society, New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering, New York, USA
- Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Ryan R. Ruff
- Global Institute of Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, USA
| | - Maliyhah Al-Bayan
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Brian Elbel
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
- Global Institute of Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
- Population Center, New York University, New York, USA
- Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Garcia AJ, Pindolia DK, Lopiano KK, Tatem AJ. Modeling internal migration flows in sub-Saharan Africa using census microdata. MIGRATION STUDIES 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/migration/mnu036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
|
37
|
Paz-Soldan VA, Reiner RC, Morrison AC, Stoddard ST, Kitron U, Scott TW, Elder JP, Halsey ES, Kochel TJ, Astete H, Vazquez-Prokopec GM. Strengths and weaknesses of Global Positioning System (GPS) data-loggers and semi-structured interviews for capturing fine-scale human mobility: findings from Iquitos, Peru. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2888. [PMID: 24922530 PMCID: PMC4055589 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying human mobility has significant consequences for studying physical activity, exposure to pathogens, and generating more realistic infectious disease models. Location-aware technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled devices are used increasingly as a gold standard for mobility research. The main goal of this observational study was to compare and contrast the information obtained through GPS and semi-structured interviews (SSI) to assess issues affecting data quality and, ultimately, our ability to measure fine-scale human mobility. A total of 160 individuals, ages 7 to 74, from Iquitos, Peru, were tracked using GPS data-loggers for 14 days and later interviewed using the SSI about places they visited while tracked. A total of 2,047 and 886 places were reported in the SSI and identified by GPS, respectively. Differences in the concordance between methods occurred by location type, distance threshold (within a given radius to be considered a match) selected, GPS data collection frequency (i.e., 30, 90 or 150 seconds) and number of GPS points near the SSI place considered to define a match. Both methods had perfect concordance identifying each participant's house, followed by 80-100% concordance for identifying schools and lodgings, and 50-80% concordance for residences and commercial and religious locations. As the distance threshold selected increased, the concordance between SSI and raw GPS data increased (beyond 20 meters most locations reached their maximum concordance). Processing raw GPS data using a signal-clustering algorithm decreased overall concordance to 14.3%. The most common causes of discordance as described by a sub-sample (n=101) with whom we followed-up were GPS units being accidentally off (30%), forgetting or purposely not taking the units when leaving home (24.8%), possible barriers to the signal (4.7%) and leaving units home to recharge (4.6%). We provide a quantitative assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of both methods for capturing fine-scale human mobility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valerie A. Paz-Soldan
- Global Health Systems and Development Department, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Robert C. Reiner
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Amy C. Morrison
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Steven T. Stoddard
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Uriel Kitron
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Thomas W. Scott
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - John P. Elder
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | | | | | - Helvio Astete
- U.S. Navy Medical Research Unit No. 6, Iquitos, Peru
| | - Gonzalo M. Vazquez-Prokopec
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Vazquez-Prokopec GM, Bisanzio D, Stoddard ST, Paz-Soldan V, Morrison AC, Elder JP, Ramirez-Paredes J, Halsey ES, Kochel TJ, Scott TW, Kitron U. Using GPS technology to quantify human mobility, dynamic contacts and infectious disease dynamics in a resource-poor urban environment. PLoS One 2013; 8:e58802. [PMID: 23577059 PMCID: PMC3620113 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2012] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Empiric quantification of human mobility patterns is paramount for better urban planning, understanding social network structure and responding to infectious disease threats, especially in light of rapid growth in urbanization and globalization. This need is of particular relevance for developing countries, since they host the majority of the global urban population and are disproportionally affected by the burden of disease. We used Global Positioning System (GPS) data-loggers to track the fine-scale (within city) mobility patterns of 582 residents from two neighborhoods from the city of Iquitos, Peru. We used ∼2.3 million GPS data-points to quantify age-specific mobility parameters and dynamic co-location networks among all tracked individuals. Geographic space significantly affected human mobility, giving rise to highly local mobility kernels. Most (∼80%) movements occurred within 1 km of an individual's home. Potential hourly contacts among individuals were highly irregular and temporally unstructured. Only up to 38% of the tracked participants showed a regular and predictable mobility routine, a sharp contrast to the situation in the developed world. As a case study, we quantified the impact of spatially and temporally unstructured routines on the dynamics of transmission of an influenza-like pathogen within an Iquitos neighborhood. Temporally unstructured daily routines (e.g., not dominated by a single location, such as a workplace, where an individual repeatedly spent significant amount of time) increased an epidemic's final size and effective reproduction number by 20% in comparison to scenarios modeling temporally structured contacts. Our findings provide a mechanistic description of the basic rules that shape human mobility within a resource-poor urban center, and contribute to the understanding of the role of fine-scale patterns of individual movement and co-location in infectious disease dynamics. More generally, this study emphasizes the need for careful consideration of human social interactions when designing infectious disease mitigation strategies, particularly within resource-poor urban environments.
Collapse
|
39
|
Buckee CO, Wesolowski A, Eagle NN, Hansen E, Snow RW. Mobile phones and malaria: modeling human and parasite travel. Travel Med Infect Dis 2013; 11:15-22. [PMID: 23478045 PMCID: PMC3697114 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2012.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Revised: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Human mobility plays an important role in the dissemination of malaria parasites between regions of variable transmission intensity. Asymptomatic individuals can unknowingly carry parasites to regions where mosquito vectors are available, for example, undermining control programs and contributing to transmission when they travel. Understanding how parasites are imported between regions in this way is therefore an important goal for elimination planning and the control of transmission, and would enable control programs to target the principal sources of malaria. Measuring human mobility has traditionally been difficult to do on a population scale, but the widespread adoption of mobile phones in low-income settings presents a unique opportunity to directly measure human movements that are relevant to the spread of malaria. Here, we discuss the opportunities for measuring human mobility using data from mobile phones, as well as some of the issues associated with combining mobility estimates with malaria infection risk maps to meaningfully estimate routes of parasite importation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline O Buckee
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Tatem AJ, Adamo S, Bharti N, Burgert CR, Castro M, Dorelien A, Fink G, Linard C, John M, Montana L, Montgomery MR, Nelson A, Noor AM, Pindolia D, Yetman G, Balk D. Mapping populations at risk: improving spatial demographic data for infectious disease modeling and metric derivation. Popul Health Metr 2012; 10:8. [PMID: 22591595 PMCID: PMC3487779 DOI: 10.1186/1478-7954-10-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in disease surveys and reporting is becoming increasingly routine, enabling a better understanding of spatial epidemiology and the improvement of surveillance and control strategies. In turn, the greater availability of spatially referenced epidemiological data is driving the rapid expansion of disease mapping and spatial modeling methods, which are becoming increasingly detailed and sophisticated, with rigorous handling of uncertainties. This expansion has, however, not been matched by advancements in the development of spatial datasets of human population distribution that accompany disease maps or spatial models.Where risks are heterogeneous across population groups or space or dependent on transmission between individuals, spatial data on human population distributions and demographic structures are required to estimate infectious disease risks, burdens, and dynamics. The disease impact in terms of morbidity, mortality, and speed of spread varies substantially with demographic profiles, so that identifying the most exposed or affected populations becomes a key aspect of planning and targeting interventions. Subnational breakdowns of population counts by age and sex are routinely collected during national censuses and maintained in finer detail within microcensus data. Moreover, demographic and health surveys continue to collect representative and contemporary samples from clusters of communities in low-income countries where census data may be less detailed and not collected regularly. Together, these freely available datasets form a rich resource for quantifying and understanding the spatial variations in the sizes and distributions of those most at risk of disease in low income regions, yet at present, they remain unconnected data scattered across national statistical offices and websites.In this paper we discuss the deficiencies of existing spatial population datasets and their limitations on epidemiological analyses. We review sources of detailed, contemporary, freely available and relevant spatial demographic data focusing on low income regions where such data are often sparse and highlight the value of incorporating these through a set of examples of their application in disease studies. Moreover, the importance of acknowledging, measuring, and accounting for uncertainty in spatial demographic datasets is outlined. Finally, a strategy for building an open-access database of spatial demographic data that is tailored to epidemiological applications is put forward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Tatem
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Stothard JR, Sousa-Figueiredo JC, Betson M, Green HK, Seto EYW, Garba A, Sacko M, Mutapi F, Vaz Nery S, Amin MA, Mutumba-Nakalembe M, Navaratnam A, Fenwick A, Kabatereine NB, Gabrielli AF, Montresor A. Closing the praziquantel treatment gap: new steps in epidemiological monitoring and control of schistosomiasis in African infants and preschool-aged children. Parasitology 2011; 138:1593-606. [PMID: 21861945 PMCID: PMC3178873 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182011001235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2011] [Revised: 06/09/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Where very young children come into contact with water containing schistosome cercariae, infections occur and schistosomiasis can be found. In high transmission environments, where mothers daily bathe their children with environmentally drawn water, many infants and preschool-aged children have schistosomiasis. This 'new' burden, inclusive of co-infections with Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni, is being formally explored as infected children are not presently targeted to receive praziquantel (PZQ) within current preventive chemotherapy campaigns. Thus an important PZQ treatment gap exists whereby infected children might wait up to 4-5 years before receiving first treatment in school. International treatment guidelines, set within national treatment platforms, are presently being modified to provide earlier access to medication(s). Although detailed pharmacokinetic studies are needed, to facilitate pragmatic dosing in the field, an extended 'dose pole' has been devised and epidemiological monitoring has shown that administration of PZQ (40 mg/kg), in either crushed tablet or liquid suspension, is both safe and effective in this younger age-class; drug efficacy, however, against S. mansoni appears to diminish after repeated rounds of treatment. Thus use of PZQ should be combined with appropriate health education/water hygiene improvements for both child and mother to bring forth a more enduring solution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Russell Stothard
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Investigating the spatial micro-epidemiology of diseases within a point-prevalence sample: a field applicable method for rapid mapping of households using low-cost GPS-dataloggers. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2011; 105:500-6. [PMID: 21714979 PMCID: PMC3183225 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2011.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2010] [Revised: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Point-prevalence recording of the distribution of tropical parasitic diseases at village level is usually sufficient for general monitoring and surveillance. Whilst within-village spatial patterning of diseases exists, and can be important, mapping infected cases in a household-by-household setting is arduous and time consuming. With the development of low-cost GPS-data loggers (< £40) and available GoogleEarthTM satellite imagery, we present a field-applicable method based on crowdsourcing for rapid identification of infected cases (intestinal schistosomiasis, malaria and hookworm) by household. A total of 126 mothers with their 247 preschool children from Bukoba village (Mayuge District, Uganda) were examined with half of these mothers given a GPS-data logger to walk home with, returning the unit the same day for data off-loading, after which, households were assigned GPS coordinates. A satellite image of Bukoba was annotated with households denoting the infection status of each mother and child. General prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis, malaria and hookworm in mothers and children was: 27.2 vs 7.7%, 28.6 vs 87.0% and 60.0 vs 22.3%, respectively. Different spatial patterns of disease could be identified likely representing the intrinsic differences in parasite biology and interplay with human behaviour(s) across this local landscape providing a better insight into reasons for disease micro-patterning.
Collapse
|
43
|
Vazquez-Prokopec GM, Stoddard ST, Paz-Soldan V, Morrison AC, Elder JP, Kochel TJ, Scott TW, Kitron U. Usefulness of commercially available GPS data-loggers for tracking human movement and exposure to dengue virus. Int J Health Geogr 2009; 8:68. [PMID: 19948034 PMCID: PMC2792221 DOI: 10.1186/1476-072x-8-68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2009] [Accepted: 11/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Our understanding of the effects of human movement on dengue virus spread remains limited in part due to the lack of precise tools to monitor the time-dependent location of individuals. We determined the utility of a new, commercially available, GPS data-logger for long-term tracking of human movements in Iquitos, Peru. We conducted a series of evaluations focused on GPS device attributes key to reliable use and accuracy. GPS observations from two participants were later compared with semi-structured interview data to assess the usefulness of GPS technology to track individual mobility patterns. Results Positional point and line accuracy were 4.4 and 10.3 m, respectively. GPS wearing mode increased spatial point error by 6.9 m. Units were worn on a neck-strap by a carpenter and a moto-taxi driver for 14-16 days. The application of a clustering algorithm (I-cluster) to the raw GPS positional data allowed the identification of locations visited by each participant together with the frequency and duration of each visit. The carpenter moved less and spent more time in more fixed locations than the moto-taxi driver, who visited more locations for a shorter period of time. GPS and participants' interviews concordantly identified 6 common locations, whereas GPS alone identified 4 locations and participants alone identified 10 locations. Most (80%) of the locations identified by participants alone were places reported as visited for less than 30 minutes. Conclusion The present study demonstrates the feasibility of a novel, commercially available GPS data-logger for long-term tracking of humans and shows the potential of these units to quantify mobility patterns in relationship with dengue virus transmission risk in a tropical urban environment. Cost, battery life, size, programmability and ease of wear are unprecedented from previously tested units, proving the usefulness of GPS-dataloggers for linking movement of individuals and transmission risk of dengue virus and other infectious agents, particularly in resource-poor settings.
Collapse
|