ArticleInternational journal of health geographics2014
Modelling environmental factors correlated with podoconiosis: a geospatial study of non-filarial elephantiasis.
Article in International journal of health geographics, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 55 citations in OpenAlex.
- Associations between podoconiosis and pedogenic factors globally - A systematic review.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Pooled it
- Mapping the global distribution of podoconiosis: Applying an evidence consensus approach.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2019Pooled it
- Integrating geospatial tools is crucial for enhancing control strategies against human lymphatic filarial infections in Ghana: A comprehensive review.Parasite epidemiology and control · 2025Review
- Determining Etiology of Elephantiasis and Associated Factors in Hawella Tula, Sidama Region, Ethiopia.Research and reports in tropical medicine · 2025Article
- Hematological and immunological profiles of podoconiosis patients in West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024Article
- Differences in Cytokine Expression at Baseline and in Response to Mineral Stimulation by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Podoconiosis Cases and Healthy Control Individuals.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2024Article
- A geochemical and mineralogical characterization of soils associated with podoconiosis.Environmental geochemistry and health · 2023Article
- Podoconiosis: Clinical spectrum and microscopic presentations.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2022Article
- Self-Care Practice and Its Associated Factors Among Podoconiosis Patients in East Gojjam Zone, North West Ethiopia.Patient preference and adherence · 2022Article
- Podoconiosis: A Possible Cause of Lymphedema in Micronesia.Hawai'i journal of health & social welfare · 2021Article
- Epidemiology and sex differences of podoconiosis in Ethiopia: A systemic review and meta-analysis.Heliyon · 2021Review
- Podoconiosis: key priorities for research and implementation.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2020Article
- High levels of depressive symptoms among people with lower limb lymphoedema in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2020Article
- Clinical, haematological and biochemical profiling of podoconiosis lymphoedema patients prior to their involvement in a clinical trial in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2020Article
- Linking soils and human health: geospatial analysis of ground-sampled soil data in relation to community-level podoconiosis data in North West Cameroon.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2020Article
- Depressive Symptoms Amongst People with Podoconiosis and Lower Limb Lymphoedema of Other Cause in Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2019Article
- Podoconiosis research to implementation: a call for global action.The Lancet. Global health · 2018Article
- Community Involvement in the Care of Persons Affected by Podoconiosis-A Lesson for Other Skin NTDs.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2018Review
- Study of lymphoedema of non-filarial origin in the northwest region of Cameroon: spatial distribution, profiling of cases and socio-economic aspects of podoconiosis.International health · 2018Article
- Integrated morbidity mapping of lymphatic filariasis and podoconiosis cases in 20 co-endemic districts of Ethiopia.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2018Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
introductionThe precise trigger of podoconiosis - endemic non-filarial elephantiasis of the lower legs - is unknown. Epidemiological and ecological studies have linked the disease with barefoot exposure to red clay soils of volcanic origin. Histopathology investigations have demonstrated that silicon, aluminium, magnesium and iron are present in the lower limb lymph node macrophages of both patients and non-patients living barefoot on these clays. We studied the spatial variation (variations across an area) in podoconiosis prevalence and the associated environmental factors with a goal to better understanding the pathogenesis of podoconiosis.
methodsFieldwork was conducted from June 2011 to February 2013 in 12 kebeles (administrative units) in northern Ethiopia. Geo-located prevalence data and soil samples were collected and analysed along with secondary geological, topographic, meteorological and elevation data. Soil data were analysed for chemical composition, mineralogy and particle size, and were interpolated to provide spatially continuous information. Exploratory, spatial, univariate and multivariate regression analyses of podoconiosis prevalence were conducted in relation to primary (soil) and secondary (elevation, precipitation, and geology) covariates.
resultsPodoconiosis distribution showed spatial correlation with variation in elevation and precipitation. Exploratory analysis identified that phyllosilicate minerals, particularly clay (smectite and kaolinite) and mica groups, quartz (crystalline silica), iron oxide, and zirconium were associated with podoconiosis prevalence. The final multivariate model showed that the quantities of smectite (RR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.35, 5.73; p = 0.007), quartz (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.26; p = 0.001) and mica (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.13; p < 0.001) in the soil had positive associations with podoconiosis prevalence.
conclusionsMore quantities of smectite, mica and quartz within the soil were associated with podoconiosis prevalence. Together with previous work indicating that these minerals may influence water absorption, potentiate infection and be toxic to human cells, the present findings suggest that these particles may play a role in the pathogenesis of podoconiosis and acute adenolymphangitis, a common cause of morbidity in podoconiosis patients.
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