Validation of a geographic information system model for mapping the risk of fasciolosis in cattle and buffaloes in Cambodia

Maps showing gradations of risk of fasciolosis due to Fasciola gigantica in Cambodia were produced using geographic information systems (GIS) technology in conjunction with determinants of fasciolosis. A comparison between levels of risk predicted by the maps and field measurements of prevalence in 11 provinces (n = 1406) showed general agreement, which suggested the epidemiological determinants and weightings used to produce the maps were appropriate. However, due to logistical constraints, prevalence was measured at the provincial level and animals were not randomly sampled (and thus were unlikely to be representative of variability within provinces). To address this, additional field work was carried out to measure prevalence in more detail—faecal samples were collected from a randomly selected set of animals in four districts across a representative province for areas predicted to be at high risk (n = 311), moderate risk (n = 268) and no risk (n = 262). As with the original field survey, the results show general agreement between prevalence and risk predicted by the maps, with the best fit found for areas predicted to be at high risk.