You and two other students in our class will form a group to collaborate to study a natural nidal, infectious
disease. The disease should also be vectored. Your group will present to the class in a 15 minute
presentation on the ecology and landscape epidemiology of the selected disease. You will then submit
to me a research paper . The project is due anytime before spring break.
The presentation and paper should generally explain and develop the ecology of your disease as well as the
patterns and mechanisms of the spread of the disease in a territory. First, the paper should include one or two
paragraphs describing the physiology of the disease (killing or debilitating; effects on organs; major symptoms;
length of incubation period; available therapies; etc.) and the modes by which the causative agent comes in
contact with humans. Note, however, that the geography of the disease does not lie in the physiology, so limit
this discussion to a few well-organized paragraphs or a page. Second, diagram and discuss the disease
transmission system.
Third, there are several thematic questions to be addressed concerning the ecology and the landscape
epidemiology of the disease. What is the human ecology of the disease? How do population, behavior and habitat
interact to maintain the disease in a community? What are the conditions of the physical environment that
determine the location, territorial extent, and limitation of the transmission system? How does cultural
behavior create buffer, expose, move or otherwise maintain the human disease? Finally, perhaps as a concluding
section of the paper and presentation, what are the intervention points to combat the disease (these should also
be indicated in your diagram).
The research paper involves both thought and reading in order to learn more about the factors of your disease.
As a group you can and should divide up the research with the goal to share, discuss and interpret research
findings. You have two options in writing the paper. You may work independently to write a paper of about 8-10
pages (double-spaced). Or, if your group can demonstrate to me that you have each come to understand
each component of the analysis and have collaborated on the interpretation of available research and policy
recommendations, then you may produce one collaborative paper. I would expect that paper to encompass a more
detailed analysis.
Clarity of thought, understanding, and expression are important for a good research paper. The paper should be
an original integration of material and should reflect the use of course terminology and concepts. The Style
Guide of the Department of Geography should be followed in preparing the final draft of the paper.
You will not find what you need in any single reference or research article. You will therefore have to conduct
extensive research on your disease in various periodicals for background material. The following should be of
use:
May, Jacques M. Ed. 1961. Studies in Disease Ecology. New York: Hafner Publishing Co. (Although
dated, this is a classic in disease ecology; facts may need updating.)
Learmonth, Andrew. 1988. Disease Ecology. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Kiple, K. F. Ed. 1993. Cambridge World History of Human Disease. New York: Cambridge University
Press.
These books will be placed on reserve in Cooley Science Library. Depending on the disease your group chooses,
the various articles on the reading list will also be very helpful. You will need, however, to supplement these with
your own research efforts.
Ideally, the project groups should be interdisciplinary; that is, students concentrating in geography should
work with student from the physical sciences or humanities. I encourage you to be creative in your
presentation.
Possible choices of diseases for research are the following:
onchocerciasis
filariasis
lyme disease
trichinosis
leishmaniasis
toxoplasmosis
giardia
loiasis
cryptosporidiosis
chagas
trypanosomiasis
dengue fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Guinea worm disease
scrub typhus
hantavirus
Background Information
Cambridge World History of Human Disease
Disease Ecology: An Introduction
Studies in Disease Ecology
Global Health Statistics
Merck Manual, 16th ed.
Journal Databases (Sources for Primary Sources)
BasicBiosis
PubMed (Medline)
Useful Web Resources
Exlibris (Libraries' Gateway to Web Resources) and Mondo (Colgate Libraries' Catalog)
Medscape (Bug Vectors Index--You must register. It is free.)
Cooley Reserve: R 131.C233 1993
Cooley Reserve: RA 792.L43
Cooley Reserve: RA 792.M37
Cooley Reserve: RA 407.M87
Cooley Reference: RC 55 .M4 1992