Uriel D. Kitron
Professor, Pathobiology
Co-Director,
Center for Zoonoses Research
Professional Interests: My research
and teaching interests center around the eco-epidemiology of infectious
diseases, particularly those carried by insects and ticks (vector-borne),
and the zoonoses (diseases that are common to humans and other animals).
Many emerging and tropical diseases belong to these groups. For diseases
such as Malaria, West Nile Fever, Lyme disease and Chagas disease my
group studies the ecology of the arthropod vectors and the mammalian
reservoir hosts incorporating a strong field component (trapping mammals,
collecting insects, identifying environmental features), as well as laboratory
work.
In my laboratory we apply tools such as geographic information systems and remote
sensing to gather and manage environmental data that can explain the spatial
distribution of disease and vectors, and assess risk of transmission. Following
quantitative spatial analysis and mathematical modeling, maps can then be produced
to target further research efforts, as well as in support of surveillance and
control efforts by public health agencies.
Current research efforts funded, among
others, by NIH, NSF and CDC, include a large-scale collaborative study of Lyme
disease and ticks in the Midwest , a study of the urban ecology of West Nile
virus in Chicago , and international studies of malaria and schistosomiasis
in Kenya and of Chagas disease in Argentina . We also collaborate with
the Illinois Department of Public Health on mapping the spread of West
Nile Virus.
Teaching interests include epidemiology of infectious diseases, spatial
epidemiology and ecological parasitology. Because of the applied nature
of some of my research, I am also interested in the transmitting of scientific
information. Beyond the teaching of courses this is manifested in work
with the public, state, national and international public health agencies
and in communication with the media. I teach a seminar course titled,
Epidemiology and the Media, where such issues are discussed.
For more information: ../ ../path/spatepi/
Selected Publications:
Chadee DD, FLR Williams and UD Kitron. Epidemiology of dengue fever in Trinidad, West Indies : the outbreak of 1998. In press, Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology .
Clennon JA, King CH, Muchiri EM, Kariuki HC, Ouma JH, Mungai P and U Kitron. Spatial patterns of Urinary schistosomiasis infection in a highly endemic area of coastal Kenya. In press, Am J Trop Med Hygiene .
Kariuki CH, Clennon JA, Brady MS, Kitron U, et al. Distribution patterns and cercarial shedding of Bulinus nasutus and other snails in Msmbweni Area, Coast Province, Kenya . In press, Am J Trop Med Hygiene.
Vazquez-Prokopec GM, Ceballos LA, Kitron U, Gurtler RE. Active dispersal of natural populations of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in rural northwestern Argentina. In press, Journal of Medical Entomology .
Schachter-Broide J, Dujardin JP, Kitron U, Gurtler RE. Spatial structuring of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from northwestern Argentina using wing geometric morphometry. In press, Journal of Medical Entomology.
Ruiz MO, Tedesco C, McTighe T, Austin C and Kitron U. (2004) Environmental and Social Determinants Human Risk during a West Nile virus outbreak in the greater Chicago area, 2002. In press, International Journal of Health Geography .
Chadee DD, FLR Williams and UD Kitron (2004). Epidemiology of dengue fever in Trinidad, West Indies: the outbreak of 1998. Annals of Trop Med and Parasit 98(3):305-12.
Clennon JA, King CH, Muchiri EM, Kariuki HC, Ouma JH, Mungai P and U Kitron. (2004). Spatial patterns of Urinary schistosomiasis infection in a highly endemic area of coastal Kenya. Am J Trop Med Hygiene 70:443-48.
Kitron U. (2004). Risk maps: mapping transmission and burden of vector-borne diseases. Parasitology Today 16: 324-325.
Cecere MC, Vazquez-Prokopec GM, Gurtler RE, U Kitron. (2004) S patio-temporal analysis of reinfestation by Triatoma infestans (hemiptera: reduviidae) following insecticide spraying in a rural community in northwestern Argentina. Am J Trop Med Hygiene 71: 803-810.
Ruiz MO, Tedesco C, McTighe T, Austin C and U Kitron. (2002) Environmental and Social Determinants of Human Risk during a West Nile virus outbreak in the greater Chicago area. Int J Hlth Geog 3: 1-11.
Guerra MA, Walker ED, Jones CJ, Paskewitz S, Cortinas MR, Stancil A, Beck L, Bobo M, U Kitron. (2002). Predicting the Risk of Lyme Disease: Habitat Suitability for Ixodes scapularis in the North-Central U.S. Emerging Infectious Diseases 8: 289-297.
Swanson J, Lancaster M, Anderson J, Crandell M, Haramis L, Grimstad P and U Kitron. (2000). Overwintering and establishment of Aedes albopictus in an urban La Crosse virus enzootic site in Illinois. Journal of Medical Entomology 37:454-460.
