Dynamic maps: a visual-analytic methodology for exploring spatio-temporal disease patterns.

Background: Epidemiologic studies are often confounded by the human and environmental interactions that are complex and dynamic spatio-temporal processes. Hence, it is difficult to discover nuances in the data and generate pertinent hypotheses. Dynamic mapping, a method to simultaneously visualize temporal and spatial information, was introduced to elucidate such complexities.

Seasonality of cryptosporidiosis: A meta-analysis approach.

Objectives: We developed methodology for and conducted a meta-analysis to examine how seasonal patterns of cryptosporidiosis, a primarily waterborne diarrheal illness, relate to precipitation and temperature fluctuations worldwide.

Methods: Monthly cryptosporidiosis data were abstracted from 61 published epidemiological studies that cover various climate regions based on the Köppen Climate Classification. Outcome data were supplemented with monthly aggregated ambient temperature and precipitation for each study location.