Mej. Woolhouse, MATHEMATICAL-MODELS OF TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS AND CONTROL OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 55(5), 1996, pp. 144-148
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Tropical Medicine
Mathematical models are potentially valuable aids to a quantitative un
derstanding of schistosome epidemiology and to the design of control p
rograms. A basic theoretical framework is described that is developed
to incorporate the impact of acquired immunity, heterogeneous transmis
sion rates, and the effects of control measures. Models that assume th
at acquired immunity acts to moderate the rate of human infection make
predictions consistent with age-intensity data from different human p
opulations. Models incorporating heterogeneous water contact behavior
can be applied to suitable field data and used to predict the potentia
l efficacy of targeted chemotherapy or focal molluscicide application.
More complex and detailed models can be used in simulation studies to
assist with the design of field trials and in the interpretation of d
ata from these trials. These applications of mathematical models sugge
st several areas requiring further theoretical development and also in
dicate areas in which adequate field data are still lacking.