Distribution of paracoccidioidomycosis: determination of ecologic correlates through spatial analyses

Med Mycol. 2004 Dec;42(6):517-23. doi: 10.1080/13693780310001656795.

Abstract

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is endemic in Latin America and in countries like Brazil it carries a high mortality rate. The fungus' habitat has not been precisely determined. The present study aims to identify ecologic correlates based on PCM distribution in a hyper-endemic area in southeastern Brazil. The Geographic Information System (GIS) and spatial statistics were used to associate environmental attributes, human population density and, PCM distribution. By means of the Pearson r correlation coefficient, the highest statistically significant associations with prevalence density were the percent area (by county) of: basaltic rocks (r=0.63; P <0.0001), Podzolic soils (r= -0.48; P <0.001), Latosol soils (r=0.40; P <0.01), mean annual precipitation between 1500 and 1600 mm (r = 0.46; P < 0.001) and, mean precipitation during the wet season between 940 and 1040 mm (r= -0.44; P <0.01). Soil texture and precipitation analyzed together reached r=0.61 (P <0.000002) for fine-textured soils with annual precipitation above 1400 mm. Environmental correlates indicate that moisture availability plays an important role in PCM distribution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Ecology
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Humans
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis / epidemiology*
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis / transmission
  • Population Density
  • Prevalence
  • Rain
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons
  • Soil

Substances

  • Soil