A general method for multiscale modelling of vector-borne disease systems. Issue 1 (6th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garira, Winston; Chirove, Faraimunashe
• Is Part Of: Interface focus. Volume 10:Issue 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02-06
• Subjects: multiscale models of disease systems -- immuno-epidemiological models -- linking within-host and between-host scale models -- multiscale modelling of human onchocerciasis -- community pathogen load -- multiscale models of vector-borne diseases; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Periodicals; 500
• DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2019.0047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-8898

Abstract

Abstract : The inability to develop multiscale models which can describe vector-borne disease systems in terms of the complete pathogen life cycle which represents multiple targets for control has hindered progress in our efforts to control, eliminate and even eradicate these multi-host infections. This is because it is currently not easy to determine precisely where and how in the life cycles of vector-borne disease systems the key constrains which are regarded as crucial in regulating pathogen population dynamics in both the vertebrate host and vector host operate. In this article, we present a general method for development of multiscale models of vector-borne disease systems which integrate the within-host and between-host scales for the two hosts (a vertebrate host and a vector host) that are implicated in vector-borne disease dynamics. The general multiscale modelling method is an extension of our previous work on multiscale models of infectious disease systems which established a basic science and accompanying theory of how pathogen population dynamics at within-host scale scales up to between-host scale and in turn how it scales down from between-host scale to within-host scale. Further, the general method is applied to multiscale modelling of human onchocerciasis—a vector-borne disease system which is sometimes called river blindness as a case study.