Applying Ensemble Ecological Niche Modeling to Identify High Risk Areas for Scorpions' Sting
ABSTRACT Scorpion stings are a global health problem, potentially impacting thousands, especially across northern Africa and the Middle East. However, scorpions are comparatively understudied compared to other venomous animals, and little is known about their distributions and associated spatial pat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71713 |
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| author | Anooshe Kafash Ahmad Ali Hanafi Bojd Anna Pintor Marc Grünig Masoud Yousefi Gholamreza Hassanpour |
| author_facet | Anooshe Kafash Ahmad Ali Hanafi Bojd Anna Pintor Marc Grünig Masoud Yousefi Gholamreza Hassanpour |
| author_sort | Anooshe Kafash |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Scorpion stings are a global health problem, potentially impacting thousands, especially across northern Africa and the Middle East. However, scorpions are comparatively understudied compared to other venomous animals, and little is known about their distributions and associated spatial patterns of sting risk. Timely access to medical treatment after scorpion stings is crucial to positive medical outcomes, but it remains poorly understood how accessible health care is for populations at risk. Thus, mapping hotspots of sting risk and identifying vulnerable populations can greatly enhance mitigation strategies. In this study, we used ecological niche models to map the distribution of eight of the most dangerous scorpion species to quantify sting risk across Iran. We identified the areas where people are most vulnerable to scorpion stings based on exposure to scorpions and limited accessibility to healthcare centers. We identified sting risk areas for each species across their distribution ranges. Androctonus crassicauda has the widest distribution range. On the contrary, Orthochirus iranus has the smallest distribution range. Regions of greatest vulnerability are located in the central parts of Iran, as well as the south and southwest of the country. Our results provide valuable information for decision makers by supporting targeted awareness‐raising programs and antivenom distribution among the most vulnerable populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-91da4a6c8eec4eb8a66f9760679cea0d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-91da4a6c8eec4eb8a66f9760679cea0d2025-08-20T03:58:44ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-07-01157n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71713Applying Ensemble Ecological Niche Modeling to Identify High Risk Areas for Scorpions' StingAnooshe Kafash0Ahmad Ali Hanafi Bojd1Anna Pintor2Marc Grünig3Masoud Yousefi4Gholamreza Hassanpour5Zoonosis Research Center Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranZoonosis Research Center Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranAustralian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine James Cook University Cairns AustraliaSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) Allschwil SwitzerlandFaculty of Governance University of Tehran Tehran IranCenter for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI) Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranABSTRACT Scorpion stings are a global health problem, potentially impacting thousands, especially across northern Africa and the Middle East. However, scorpions are comparatively understudied compared to other venomous animals, and little is known about their distributions and associated spatial patterns of sting risk. Timely access to medical treatment after scorpion stings is crucial to positive medical outcomes, but it remains poorly understood how accessible health care is for populations at risk. Thus, mapping hotspots of sting risk and identifying vulnerable populations can greatly enhance mitigation strategies. In this study, we used ecological niche models to map the distribution of eight of the most dangerous scorpion species to quantify sting risk across Iran. We identified the areas where people are most vulnerable to scorpion stings based on exposure to scorpions and limited accessibility to healthcare centers. We identified sting risk areas for each species across their distribution ranges. Androctonus crassicauda has the widest distribution range. On the contrary, Orthochirus iranus has the smallest distribution range. Regions of greatest vulnerability are located in the central parts of Iran, as well as the south and southwest of the country. Our results provide valuable information for decision makers by supporting targeted awareness‐raising programs and antivenom distribution among the most vulnerable populations.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71713Iranniche modelsscorpionssting risk |
| spellingShingle | Anooshe Kafash Ahmad Ali Hanafi Bojd Anna Pintor Marc Grünig Masoud Yousefi Gholamreza Hassanpour Applying Ensemble Ecological Niche Modeling to Identify High Risk Areas for Scorpions' Sting Ecology and Evolution Iran niche models scorpions sting risk |
| title | Applying Ensemble Ecological Niche Modeling to Identify High Risk Areas for Scorpions' Sting |
| title_full | Applying Ensemble Ecological Niche Modeling to Identify High Risk Areas for Scorpions' Sting |
| title_fullStr | Applying Ensemble Ecological Niche Modeling to Identify High Risk Areas for Scorpions' Sting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applying Ensemble Ecological Niche Modeling to Identify High Risk Areas for Scorpions' Sting |
| title_short | Applying Ensemble Ecological Niche Modeling to Identify High Risk Areas for Scorpions' Sting |
| title_sort | applying ensemble ecological niche modeling to identify high risk areas for scorpions sting |
| topic | Iran niche models scorpions sting risk |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71713 |
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