@article{fdi:010063099,
  title = {{E}cological niche modelling of {H}emipteran insects in {C}ameroon ; the paradox of a vector-borne transmission for {M}ycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of {B}uruli ulcer},
  author = {{C}arolan, {K}{\'e}vin and {E}bong, {S}. {M}. {A}. and {G}architorena, {A}ndr{\`e}s and {L}andier, {J}. and {S}anhueza, {D}. and {T}exier, {G}. and {M}arsollier, {L}. and {L}e {G}all, {P}hilippe and {G}u{\'e}gan, {J}ean-{F}ran{\c{c}}ois and {L}o {S}een, {D}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {T}he mode of transmission of the emerging neglected disease {B}uruli ulcer is unknown. {S}everal potential transmission pathways have been proposed, such as amoebae, or transmission through food webs. {S}everal lines of evidence have suggested that biting aquatic insects, {N}aucoridae and {B}elostomatidae, may act as vectors, however this proposal remains controversial. {M}aterials and methods: {H}erein, based on sampling in {C}ameroon, we construct an ecological niche model of these insects to describe their spatial distribution. {W}e predict their distribution across {W}est {A}frica, describe important environmental drivers of their abundance, and examine the correlation between their abundance and {B}uruli ulcer prevalence in the context of the {B}radford-{H}ill guidelines. {R}esults: {W}e find a significant positive correlation between the abundance of the insects and the prevalence of {B}uruli ulcer. {T}his correlation changes in space and time, it is significant in one {C}amerounese study region in ({A}konolinga) and not other ({B}ankim). {W}e discuss notable environmental differences between these regions. {C}onclusion: {W}e interpret the presence of, and change in, this correlation as evidence (though not proof) that these insects may be locally important in the environmental persistence, or transmission, of {M}ycobacterium. ulcerans. {T}his is consistent with the idea of {M}. ulcerans as a pathogen transmitted by multiple modes of infection, the importance of any one pathway changing from region to region, depending on the local environmental conditions.},
  keywords = {{E}cological niche modelling ; {N}aucoridae ; {B}elostomatidae ; {S}patial distribution ; {H}abitat suitability ; {B}uruli ulcer ; {M}ycobacterium ulcerans ; {V}ector-borne transmission ; {E}nvironmentally-acquired disease ; {CAMEROUN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nternational {J}ournal of {H}ealth {G}eographics},
  volume = {13},
  numero = {},
  pages = {art. 44 [11 ]},
  ISSN = {1476-072{X}},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1186/1476-072x-13-44},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010063099},
}