Modeling Lyme Disease

Modeling Lyme Disease
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 70
Release: 2018
Genre: Electronic books
ISBN:

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Lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the United States, which humans acquire from an infected blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Though Lyme disease is not generally considered to be a deadly affliction, untreated cases often result in chronic joint pain and other crippling symptoms. Early studies of Lyme disease focused on how environmental factors, such as climate and ecosystem type, aided in its geographical spread. One key factor not considered by previous research is the tick’s host preference in the presence of multiple hosts. Our mathematical model is a continuous dynamical system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that models the interactions between the primary vectors involved: blacklegged ticks (I. scapularis), white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and includes different stages in tick development. Parameters are estimated from numerous studies and the endemic levels in field studies. Based on our model, we also calculate the basic reproduction number, R0, a threshold value that designates whether a disease exists or dies out. Subsequent extensions of the model consider seasonal and migratory effects on Lyme disease spread. The seasonal extension of our base model incorporates time-varying parameters, including infection rates and death rates of specific vectors. A sensitivity analysis of parameters, specifically the time-varying infection rates, is performed to see how the length of a tick’s peak feeding period affects the long-term dynamics of the system. The results of this analysis suggest that a longer tick peak feeding period results in a higher infection prevalence. Lastly, the base model is extended to account for the migration of deer between two neighboring counties, where one is at an endemic steady state and the other is at a disease-free state. The deer migration contributed to local infectiousness in the disease-free county, which eventually reached the endemic steady state after a long period of time. A sensitivity analysis of the migration parameter demonstrated that increasing migration rates can result in increased infectivity in neighboring counties over a long period of time.

Wildlife Review

Wildlife Review
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 406
Release: 1991
Genre: Natural history
ISBN:

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Lyme Disease Ecology: Effects of Habitat and Hosts on the Density and Distribution of Borrelia Burgdorferi-infected Ixodes Scapularis

Lyme Disease Ecology: Effects of Habitat and Hosts on the Density and Distribution of Borrelia Burgdorferi-infected Ixodes Scapularis
Author: Megan Ainsley Linske
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2017
Genre: Electronic dissertations
ISBN:

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The research discussed in this dissertation examined host and habitat composition in Connecticut and their effect on the ecology of Lyme disease. Previous studies on management strategies sought a one-size-fits-all solution. However, Connecticut may require its own implementation of management strategies supported by research executed in its respective environment. Therefore, a novel approach that addresses the key components of a particular habitat, in this case Connecticut’s northern hardwood forests with an invasive plant understory, may yield better results than a â€silver bullet†solution produced by a model or conducted in a different geographic location. My research is conducted in Connecticut backyards and woodlands. Therefore, the results and management strategies proposed through the product of my research will be directed towards decreasing the prevalence of ticks and B. burgdorferi in this state. My findings will manage for the composition of hosts and habitat specific to this area. The product of my research will be a long-term solution to the ecological issues that are causing the rise in tick populations and subsequent Lyme disease prevalence in Connecticut. In order to accomplish this goal, the following objectives were compiled: 1) To further define the relationship between blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and invasive plant species in Connecticut, specifically Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii); 2) To determine the underlying causal mechanism between Japanese barberry and the primary reservoir for B. burgdorferi, white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus); and 3) To apply the theory of dilution effect on the density and dispersion of B. burgdorferi in Connecticut.

The Effect of Stress Level and Parasite Load on the Movement Pattern of the White-footed Mouse Within a Fragmented Landscape

The Effect of Stress Level and Parasite Load on the Movement Pattern of the White-footed Mouse Within a Fragmented Landscape
Author: Jorge Gaitan Camacho
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

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"Lyme disease is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. In North America, it has a number of vertebrate hosts including the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus). The disease is transmitted to other vertebrates, including humans, through the bite of an infected black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis). In recent years there has been an increase in the incidence of Borrelia burgdorferi in southern Quebec, coinciding with the range expansion of the white-footed mouse and the black-legged tick in the region. This increasing distribution of reservoir and vector will undoubtedly favour the emergence and spread of Lyme disease in the parts of the province where they both become more abundant. As a generalist species, the white-footed mouse is favoured in fragmented landscapes like the Monteregie area, where it has been displacing the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), its local competitor. In this region we evaluated the effects of stress level, parasite load and some forest patch characteristics on white-footed mouse movement patterns. We found a negative effect of the adrenal gland size, a proxy for stress level, on the home range area and the movement rate of mouse individuals, suggesting that stressed mice cannot defend large home ranges. White-footed mouse population densities had a negative effect on the home range area and on the movement rate, consistent with higher competition rates and conflict avoidance behaviours in these sites. Population density also influenced the excursion (outside the forest patch) and exploration (outside the home range) rates, either directly or indirectly through its effect on home range area and movement rate. Finally, we found that the load of ticks had a negative effect on movement rate. P. leucopus densities and stress levels are good predictors of the movement patterns in this species and can be used to better understand its dispersal dynamics at the front of its distribution range. This will contribute to better predict the rate and pattern of Lyme disease expansion and identify high-risk areas for the disease." --