Zooprophylactic diversion of mosquitoes from human to alternative hosts: A static simulation model
Authored by A Hassanali, L V Nedorezov, A M Sadykou
Date Published: 2008
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.10.023
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Abstract
In this paper we describe the development of individual-based simulation
model on zoophilic mosquito's behavior that encounters odor plumes from
two groups of alternative hosts. Within the framework of the model it is
assumed that (i) the hosts are represented by two points located at
varying distance from each other and that their odor plumes ({''}zones
of influence{''}) are represented by fractional-linear functions that
depend on the number of individuals in each host group and their
relative attractiveness to the mosquito; (ii) a mosquito comes under the
attractive influence of the plumes only within a fixed domain with
rectangular distribution; (iii) outside the odor zones, the probability
of a mosquito locating points that represent human or animal hosts is
zero; and (iv) the interval between mosquito's contact with one or the
other plume is a stochastic variable with exponential distribution. 101
computer experiments were carried out to elucidate the relationship
between the number of individual mosquitoes that arrived at the `human
point' and its distance from the I animal point'. This relationship was
found to have a non-linear character with maximum diversion to the
alternative hosts occurring at a certain optimum distance. As expected, at any given distance between the host points, the number of mosquitoes
that arrived at the `human point' varied with the relative numbers of
`human and animal individuals'. The implications of the results are
discussed. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Tags
Dynamics
Malaria