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Modeling Tsetse Fly Host Preference and African Trypanosomiasis in Cameroon

Park, Suh Yeong

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Mathematics.

African Trypanosomiasis causes many problems in both public health and agricultural production in Africa. Tsetse flies transmit Trypanosomiasis; targets for the fly are vertebrates, including humans. Humans and animals cannot be infected through direct contact with each other, but Tsetse flies are a vehicle for the spread of the disease. In the north of Cameroon, cattle are infected more than humans but in the south of Cameroon the opposite trend is observed.

We examine the different levels of disease prevalence in the two host types in the north and the south. Because the population in Cameroon is unevenly distributed, we hypothesize that the cause of this phenomenon is that flies have a greater opportunity to bite a more abundant host. We introduce two models of Trypanosomiasis in Cameroon – an SIS model and a host preference model. We use the SIS model to determine whether Trypanosomiasis can invade the population. The host preference model rests on the assumption that Tsetse flies prefer more abundunt host, and borrows the concept of functional response from ecology. Finally, we construct a new SIS model by combining our basic SIS model and the host preference model. Further numerical work on the model is needed to assess whether it explains the different levels of disease prevalence observed in Cameroon.

Joseph Tien (Advisor)
Rebecca Garabed (Advisor)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Park, S. Y. (2011). Modeling Tsetse Fly Host Preference and African Trypanosomiasis in Cameroon [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306862287

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Park, Suh Yeong. Modeling Tsetse Fly Host Preference and African Trypanosomiasis in Cameroon. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306862287.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Park, Suh Yeong. "Modeling Tsetse Fly Host Preference and African Trypanosomiasis in Cameroon." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306862287

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)