Exploration of the Impact of Complex Host Dynamics on a West-Nile Virus Epidemic

dc.contributor.advisor Leander, Rachel
dc.contributor.author Klockenkemper, Paul
dc.contributor.committeemember Ding, Wandi
dc.contributor.committeemember Saunders, John Charles
dc.date.accessioned 2024-04-24T22:02:27Z
dc.date.available 2024-04-24T22:02:27Z
dc.date.issued 2024
dc.date.updated 2024-04-24T22:02:27Z
dc.description.abstract In this project, we use mathematical modeling and optimal control to study the impli- cations of variable host competency and host demographics on a West Nile virus epidemic with the primary objective being to determine how horizontal transmission in birds and variable bird competency impacts the model reproduction number and endemic steady- sates(s). The model uses ordinary differential equations to describe the transmission of the virus between birds and mosquitoes, vertical transmission in mosquitoes, horizontal transmission in birds, the mosquito life cycle, and bird demographics. Previous work, which focused on mosquito dynamics, demonstrated the choice of objective functional can significantly impact the optimal control and its impact on the mosquito population. However, due to the simplistic treatment of the bird demographics, these conclusions were limited to the late summer and early fall. Moreover, previous work did not consider the impact of variable host competency on the epidemic and its control. Here, we for- mulate and parameterize a model including bird recruitment and two bird types which are thought to be important for West Nile virus maintenance and transmission: Corvides (e.g. crows and jays) and Passerides (e.g. sparrows, wrens and buntings). We investigate how the incorporation of multiple bird types impacts the model reproduction number us- ing the next-generation-matrix method and investigate the existence of endemic steady states.
dc.description.degree M.S.
dc.identifier.uri https://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/handle/mtsu/7180
dc.language.rfc3066 en
dc.publisher Middle Tennessee State University
dc.source.uri http://dissertations.umi.com/mtsu:11834
dc.subject Basic Reproduction Number
dc.subject Endemic Equilibrium
dc.subject Mosquito to Host Ratio
dc.subject Multi-Host Model
dc.subject Next Generation Matrix
dc.subject West Nile Virus
dc.subject Mathematics
dc.subject Biology
dc.subject Epidemiology
dc.thesis.degreelevel masters
dc.title Exploration of the Impact of Complex Host Dynamics on a West-Nile Virus Epidemic
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Klockenkemper_mtsu_0170N_11834.pdf
Size:
6.89 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.27 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Collections