Title
Open-Source 3D Printable GPS Tracker to Characterize the Role of Human Population Movement on Malaria Epidemiology in River Networks: A Proof-of-Concept Study in the Peruvian Amazon
Date Issued
24 September 2020
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Fornace K.
Wong D.
Saldaña-Lopez J.A.
Castillo-Meza O.E.
Caballero-Andrade A.E.
Manrique E.
Ruiz-Cabrejos J.
Rodriguez H.
Henostroza G.
Castro M.C.
Publisher(s)
Frontiers Media S.A.
Abstract
Human movement affects malaria epidemiology at multiple geographical levels; however, few studies measure the role of human movement in the Amazon Region due to the challenging conditions and cost of movement tracking technologies. We developed an open-source low-cost 3D printable GPS-tracker and used this technology in a cohort study to characterize the role of human population movement in malaria epidemiology in a rural riverine village in the Peruvian Amazon. In this pilot study of 20 participants (mean age = 40 years old), 45,980 GPS coordinates were recorded over 1 month. Characteristic movement patterns were observed relative to the infection status and occupation of the participants. Applying two analytical animal movement ecology methods, utilization distributions (UDs) and integrated step selection functions (iSSF), we showed contrasting environmental selection and space use patterns according to infection status. These data suggested an important role of human movement in the epidemiology of malaria in the Peruvian Amazon due to high connectivity between villages of the same riverine network, suggesting limitations of current community-based control strategies. We additionally demonstrate the utility of this low-cost technology with movement ecology analysis to characterize human movement in resource-poor environments.
Volume
8
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Tecnología médica de laboratorio (análisis de muestras, tecnologías para el diagnóstico)
Epidemiología
Parasitología
Medicina tropical
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85092312533
Source
Frontiers in Public Health
ISSN of the container
2296-2565
Sponsor(s)
We acknowledge the Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for funding received for this project through the GORGAS grant - 2017. This work was additionally supported by the NIH-NIAID (U19AI089681). GC-E was supported by NIH/Fogarty International Center Global Infectious Diseases Training Program (D43 TW007120). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
We would like to thank all inhabitants and local authorities from Gamitanacocha, Loreto, Peru for their enthusiastic participation in the study as well as all field workers for their dedication during the study. Funding. We acknowledge the Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for funding received for this project through the GORGAS grant - 2017. This work was additionally supported by the NIH- NIAID (U19AI089681). GC-E was supported by NIH/Fogarty International Center Global Infectious Diseases Training Program (D43 TW007120). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus