[Spatiotemporal pattern of Oncomelania snails at village level in Hubei Province]

To study the spatiotemporal distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails in different areal-types at a village level in Hubei Province, so as to provide the basis for formulating the strategies and measures of snail control.

The snail data of 30 schistosomiasis epidemic counties at a village scale in Hubei Province from 2007 to 2012 were collected and combined with the geographic information of each village to construct the spatial database of snails. The snail area and its change trend of different areal-types were illustrated; the multilevel model of snail distribution was established.

The snail area of each village from 2007 to 2012 was correlated (Intra-class correlation coefficient, ICC = 95.7%). Both the baseline and the rate of change of snail area were significantly different (σ(2)(u0) = 4,766.53, σ(2)(u1)= 20.96, both P < 0.01). The rate of change of snail area was higher if the baseline of snail area was higher (σ(2)(u01) =126.78, P < 0.01). The snail areas of villages were increased slowly by year (year = 0.64,P < 0.01). The average snail areas and growth of snail areas of villages in the marshland and lake region were largest (type= -29.84, P < 0.01; year*type = -0.52, P < 0.01).

The snail area is significantly different among both villages and areal-types. This study spatially visualizes the snail data of 30 schistosomiasis epidemic counties in Hubei Province and establishes the multilevel model, providing the basis of snail control in different areal-types.