A spatially explicit agent-based simulation model of a reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis, Rhombomys opimus
Authored by Mohammadreza Rajabi, Petter Pilesjo, Mohammad Reza Shirzadi, Reza Fadaei, Ali Mansourian, Javad Ramazanpour
Date Published: 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.12.004
Sponsors:
No sponsors listed
Platforms:
Repast
Java
Model Documentation:
UML
ODD
Flow charts
Pseudocode
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Rhombomys opimus (R. opimus), a social rodent, is the main reservoir
host for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in most parts of the
Middle East and central Asia. The difficulties in monitoring rodent
population patterns have hindered the effective application of
preventive measures of ZCL. This study presents a spatially explicit
agent-based simulation model of R. opimus behaviors that is integrated
with Geographic Automata System (GAS) and a heuristic optimization
method, cuckoo search (CS). The model is used to explore the
relationships among rodent population dynamics, ZCL incidence and
authority interventions using statistical data generated from simulated
rodent societies rather than observational data, which are difficult to
obtain through field surveys. The model simulation considers three agent
types: rodents, colonies and cell agents. The model components and
overall approach are calibrated, investigated with sensitivity analysis
and validated with empirical field data in a ZCL-endemic area in
Isfahan, central Iran. The results suggest that unsupervised and
sporadic preventive measures could cause rodent emigration towards human
population centers and start new waves of infections. (C) 2017 Elsevier
B.V. All rights reserved.
Tags
Agent-based model
Dynamics
Afghanistan
Optimization
pattern
population
systems
disease
Landscapes
Risk-factors
Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis
Rhombomys opimus
Socio-ecological interactions
Infection-rates
Central iran