A mathematical epidemiological model of gram-negative Bartonella bacteria : does differential ectoparasite load fully explain the differences in infection prevalence of Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus?
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Date
Authors
Brettschneider, Helene
Anguelov, Roumen
Chimimba, Christian Timothy
Bastos, Armanda D.S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
We postulate that the large difference in infection prevalence, 24% versus 5%, in R. norvegicus and R. rattus,
respectively, between these two co-occurring host species may be due to differences in ectoparasite and
potential vector infestation rates.Acompartmental model, representative of an infectious system containing
these two Rattus species and two ectoparasite vectors, was constructed and the coefficients of the forces of
infection determined mathematically. The maximum difference obtained by the model in the prevalence
of Bartonella in the two Rattus species amounts to 4.6%, compared to the observed mean difference of
19%. Results suggest the observed higher Bartonella infection prevalence in Rattus norvegicus compared
to Rattus rattus, cannot be explained solely by higher ectoparasite load. The model also highlights the
need for more detailed biological research on Bartonella infections in Rattus and the importance of the
flea vector in the spread of this disease.
Description
Keywords
Bartonella, Rats, Mathematical epidemiological model, Ectoparasites, Infection prevalence, South Africa
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
H. Brettschneider, R. Anguelov, C. T. Chimimba & A. D.S Bastos (2012): A mathematical epidemiological model of gram-negative Bartonella bacteria: does differential ectoparasite load fully explain the differences in infection prevalence of Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus?, Journal of Biological Dynamics, 6:2, 763-781