A New Approach for Determining the Spatial Risk Levels for Visceral and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis related with the Distribution of Vector Species in Western Part of Turkey using Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing

Leishmaniases are present in two clinical forms, as visceral and cutaneous, in Turkey showing a tendency of spreading throughout the country. The aim of the present study was to produce a new model for determining the spatial risk levels using the data in a selected study site in the western part of Turkey. The results of entomological studies in this leishmaniasis focus indicated the presence of suspected vector species Phlebotomus (Larroussius) tobbi and P (Larroussius) neglectus for the visceral, P (Paraphlebotomus) similis for cutaneous forms of the disease. The new risk model was developed based on univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses of geographical variables as altitude, aspect, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) values related to the distribution of these three species. The results of the new model were used to produce the risk maps and the potential distribution areas of the incriminated vector species with the use of geographical technologies which allowed the identification of the leishmaniasis risk levels that may provide useful information to guide the control program interventions.