How do snails meet fish? Landscape perspective needed to study parasite prevalence

Abstract

We echo the viewpoints presented in the recent editorials and forums in EcoHealth in 2009 and 2010 that understanding the links between water and health using biogeography can provide insights into the patterns of and the processes that give rise to the distribution of disease prevalence. In particular, we underscore the need to integrate disease ecology and biogeography using landscape ecological approaches. We use opisthorchiasis, a major public health problem in Southeast Asia, to illustrate our opinions. © 2011 International Association for Ecology and Health.