Canine distemper outbreak modeled in an animal shelter. Issue 1 (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dantzler, Ashley; Hujoel, Margaux; Parkman, Virginia; Wild, Ayana; Lenhart, Suzanne; Levy, Benjamin; Wilkes, Rebecca
• Is Part Of: Letters in biomathematics. Volume 3:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 13
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: Canine distemper -- infectious disease modelling -- basic reproductive number -- ordinary differential equations; Biomathematics -- Periodicals; Computational Biology; Biostatistics; Models, Biological; Biomathematics; Periodicals; Periodicals; 570.151
• DOI: 10.1080/23737867.2016.1148644
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2373-7867

Abstract

Abstract : Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious virus that can cause outbreaks, specifically in crowding situations, such as an animal shelter, in which a large number of susceptible dogs are brought together. Introduction of this virus into a shelter can have devastating effects, potentially resulting in shelter canine depopulation. Motivated by recent outbreaks in Tennessee, a mathematical model was constructed to find relevant factors that could assist in preventing or reducing outbreaks. A system of ordinary differential equations was derived to represent the spread of CDV through susceptible, exposed, infected and recovered ( S – E – I – R ) classes as well as a vaccinated ( V ) class. Our model was adapted to represent a local Knoxville shelter. The effects of various control methods, both preventative and corrective, on disease spread were investigated.