Recent advances in the use of geographical information systems with particular relevance to veterinary parasitology

During the past decades the publication of papers interest related to the use of geographical information systems (GIS) and/or remote sensing (RS) and of particular interest to veterinary parasitology veterinary followed an exponential trend. The use of GIS and RS is now generally accepted by the scientific community as a major tool contributing to the understanding of epidemiological processes sensu lato: disease –vector –host –environment. Nevertheless, whilst most people now are aware of the potential of these techniques, many still hesitate to use these tools for research or decision making. This paper reviews recent advances towards more widespread ‘routine’ use of GIS and RS in parasitology. After a brief introduction setting historical trends and milestones, followed by a more detailed review of past work in three chosen fields, tsetse transmitted trypanosomosis, liver fluke and East Coast fever, the authors discuss how Geographical Information Systems-Science (GIS) is currently evolving towards STIS, Space-Time Information Systems-Science, an even more holistic multidisciplinary approach encapsulating not only space but also the time domain. An inventory is made of the different topics addressed during the last two years separately for disease mapping, spatial epidemiology and decision support systems. Current trends show that systems based on spatial data analysis and the use of remote sensing are now applied to a wide variety of diseases and geographical areas suggesting that GIS/RS are now widely used for research and decision making purposes. Most of the tools and ingredients are now available to further promote the emergence of STIS reasoning in veterinary parasitology, provided scientists from different disciplines are prepared to share data and experience. More than ever such technologies and collaborative networks are needed to help understand and cope with new challenges of a changing world : climate change, globalization and emerging diseases.