摘要：Land cover, a critical variable in the epidemiology of kala-azar, can be remotely characterized by customizing and integrating “state-of-the-art” imagery at different spatial scales from different sensors onboard satellites.A study was conducted at four levels (national, state, district and village) investigating the role of land use/land cover (LULC) for leishmaniasis transmission resulting in a framework highlighting the links between LULC and areas endemic for the disease.Distribution maps were analysed by a probabilistic approach (Bayesian classifier) which produced a set of “suitability estimates” based on the probability of sand fly presence.The development of a sound knowledge of each link in the predicted sequence of satellite views offering an extraordinary opportunity to support the mapping of kala-azar endemicity and stratification of areas suitable for sand fly habitats across the country as well as at the local scale.
关键词：Kala-azar; remote sensing; spatial scale; land use/land cover; India.
