A SIMPLE LINEARIZATION PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING R0 FROM INVASIVE EPIDEMIC MODELS

Plant diseases often cause yield losses in agriculture worldwide. In mathematical ecology, the concept of the basic (or basal) reproduction number, R₀, has received little attention in the scientific literature related to phytopathogen transmission in plants. The spread and magnitude of outbreaks, the rate of invasion and infectivity of the etiologic agent, the contact complexities occurring among parasite and host, and its susceptibility and period of infectiousness are very important factors for epidemiological models. These mathematical models, when applied in ecology, can help to understand the spread of infections from phytopathogens (or pests) to plant hosts as well as detect potential risks of contamination or outbreaks by using the basic reproduction number in effective control strategies. In this study, the Maclaurin series concepts on the Force of Infection were applied to derive R₀ expressions from generic epidemiological SIR (Susceptible‐Infected‐Removed) models. Consequently, we were able to obtain these relations from three transmission‐infection model examples. Then, once the expression of Force of Infection is known from the “infectious” problem studied, it is possible to apply this technique to formulate the R₀ relation and guide practicable strategies for dispersing invasive phytopathogen controls.     

Optimal control and basic reproduction numbers for a compartmental spatial multipatch dengue model

Dengue is a vector‐borne viral disease increasing dramatically over the past years due to improvement in human mobility. In this work, a multipatch model for dengue transmission dynamics is studied, and by that, the control efforts to minimize the disease spread by host and vector control are investigated. For this model, the basic reproduction number is derived, giving a choice for parameters in the endemic case. The multipatch system models the host movement within the patches, which coupled via a residence‐time budgeting matrix P. Numerical results confirm that the control mechanism embedded in incidence rates of the disease transmission effectively reduces the spread of the disease.     

Spatial‐temporal basic reproduction number and dynamics for a dengue disease diffusion model

A reaction‐diffusion system with free boundary is proposed to describe the transmission of the dengue disease from mosquitoes to humans. In addition to the classical basic reproduction number R₀, the spatial‐temporal basic reproduction number is introduced to determine the persistence and eradication of the disease. Some sufficient conditions for the disease vanishing or spreading are obtained. The disease will go extinct under one of the conditions: the classical basic reproduction number R₀ < 1 and the spatial‐temporal basic reproduction number with small expanding capability. The spread of the disease in the whole area is possible if for some t≥0. Numerical simulations are also given to illustrate the theoretical results.     

A multi‐regional epidemic model for controlling the spread of Ebola: awareness,treatment, and travel‐blocking optimal control approaches

Ebola virus disease (EVD) can rapidly cause death to animals and people, for less than 1month. In addition, EVD can emerge in one region and spread to its neighbors in unprecedented durations. Such cases were reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Thus, by blocking free travelers, traders, and transporters, EVD has had also impacts on economies of those countries. In order to find effective strategies that aim to increase public knowledge about EVD and access to possible treatment while restricting movements of people coming from regions at high risk of infection, we analyze three different optimal control approaches associated with awareness campaigns, treatment, and travel‐blocking operations that health policy‐makers could follow in the war on EVD. Our study is based on the application of Pontryagin's maximum principle, in a multi‐regional epidemic model we devise here for controlling the spread of EVD. The model is in the form of multi‐differential systems that describe dynamics of susceptible, infected, and removed populations belonging to p different geographical domains with three control functions incorporated. The forward–backward sweep method with integrated progressive‐regressive Runge–Kutta fourth‐order schemes is followed for resolving the multi‐points boundary value problems obtained. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamical behaviors of a discrete HIV‐1 virus model with bilinear infective rate

We establish a discrete virus dynamic model by discretizing a continuous HIV‐1 virus model with bilinear infective rate using ‘hybrid’ Euler method. We discuss not only the existence and global stability of the uninfected equilibrium but also the existence and local stability of the infected equilibrium. We prove that there exists a crucial value similar to that of the continuous HIV‐1 virus dynamics, which is called the basic reproductive ratio of the virus. If the basic reproductive ratio of the virus is less than one, the uninfected equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. If the basic reproductive ratio of the virus is larger than one, the infected equilibrium exists and is locally stable. Moreover, we consider the permanence for such a system by constructing a Lyapunov function v_n. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling diseases with latency and nonlinear incidence rates: global dynamics of a multi‐group model

In this paper, we perform global stability analysis of a multi‐group SEIR epidemic model in which we can consider the heterogeneity of host population and the effects of latency and nonlinear incidence rates. For a simpler version that assumes an identical natural death rate for all groups, and with a gamma distribution for the latency, the basic reproduction number is defined by the theory of the next generation operator and proved to be a sharp threshold determining whether or not disease spread. Under certain assumptions, the disease‐free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if R₀≤1 and there exists a unique endemic equilibrium which is globally asymptotically stable if R₀>1. The proofs of global stability of equilibria exploit a matrix‐theoretic method using Perron eigenvetor, a graph‐theoretic method based on Kirchhoff's matrix tree theorem and Lyapunov functionals. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS in Jiangsu province,China

HIV transmission by sexual activities exhibits a substantial increase and has become a primary transmission mode in China recently. A mathematical model is formulated so as to identify the key processes and parameters that could explain the quick increase in the proportion of heterosexual transmission and further to assist in suggesting control measures urgently. On the basis of surveillance data on a number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Jiangsu province, we parameterize the model and estimate the reproduction number by using the least squares method. The basic reproduction number was estimated to be R₀ = 3.52 for the therapy scenario of heterosexual transmission. The model predicts that the epidemic will peak in 2020. New infections are sensitive to the transmission coefficient, dependent on condom use rate, and the risky activities during the early period, whereas are sensitive to the recruitment rate in the late period of the transmission respectively. Antiviral therapy can either increase or decrease the new infections depending on both the extended life span of treated individuals and the infectiousness of the treated individuals. Hence, effective control measures during different transmission periods can be suggested, and antiretroviral therapy is a contentious issue for disease control. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Global properties of a class of HIV infection models with Beddington–DeAngelis functional response

In this paper, the global properties of a class of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) models with Beddington–DeAngelis functional response are investigated. Lyapunov functions are constructed to establish the global asymptotic stability of the uninfected and infected steady states of three HIV infection models. The first model considers the interaction process of the HIV and the CD4 ⁺ T cells and takes into account the latently and actively infected cells. The second model describes two co‐circulation populations of target cells, representing CD4 ⁺ T cells and macrophages. The third model is a two‐target‐cell model taking into account the latently and actively infected cells. We have proven that if the basic reproduction number R₀ is less than unity, then the uninfected steady state is globally asymptotically stable, and if R₀ > 1, then the infected steady state is globally asymptotically stable. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HIV/AIDS epidemic fractional-order model

In this paper a non-linear mathematical model with fractional order ?, 0 < ? ≤ 1 is presented for analyzing and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS. Both the disease-free equilibrium E₀ and the endemic equilibrium E^* are found and their stability is discussed using the stability theorem of fractional order differential equations. The basic reproduction number R₀ plays an essential role in the stability properties of our system. When R₀ < 1 the disease-free equilibrium E₀ is attractor, but when R₀ > 1, E₀ is unstable and the endemic equilibrium (EE) E^* exists and it is an attractor. Finally numerical Simulations are also established to investigate the influence of the system parameter on the spread of the disease.     

Modelling the effect of tuberculosis on the spread of HIV infection in a population with density-dependent birth and death rate

A nonlinear mathematical model is proposed to study the effect of tuberculosis on the spread of HIV infection in a logistically growing human population. The host population is divided into four sub classes of susceptibles, TB infectives, HIV infectives (with or without TB) and that of AIDS patients. The model exhibits four equilibria namely, a disease free, HIV free, TB free and an endemic equilibrium. The model has been studied qualitatively using stability theory of nonlinear differential equations and computer simulation. We have found a threshold parameter R₀ which is if less than one, the disease free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable otherwise for R₀>1, at least one of the infections will be present in the population. It is shown that the positive endemic equilibrium is always locally stable but it may become globally stable under certain conditions showing that the disease becomes endemic. It is found that as the number of TB infectives decreases due to recovery, the number of HIV infectives also decreases and endemic equilibrium tends to TB free equilibrium. It is also observed that number of AIDS individuals decreases if TB is not associated with HIV infection. A numerical study of the model is also performed to investigate the influence of certain key parameters on the spread of the disease.     

Low‐density barriers for controlling plant crowd diseases: How far and fast can pathogens spread?

We explore numerically the possibility of controlling the spread of plant diseases characterized by relatively low dispersal (crowd diseases) through the introduction of a spatial barrier with low density of susceptible hosts. We use the diffusion approximation to Kendall's spatially extended version of the Kermack–McKendrick epidemic model and illustrate our findings within the context of a representative viral disease that affects cocoa trees. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGERS:

• Our numerical results suggest that using low‐density barriers of hosts in crowd plant diseases might be an effective way of halting the spatial dispersal of pathogens. The introduction of these barriers may reduce the economic impact when compared with other methods of controlling the disease spread.
• Before using the model to approximate suitable sizes of barriers, it is necessary to execute an exhaustive assessment of the model appropriateness for any particular disease under consideration.
• Our results suggest that to improve the efficiency of low‐density barriers it is important to explore their use in combination of current alternative control methods.

     

Dynamics of an HIV‐1 virus model with both virus‐to‐cell and cell‐to‐cell transmissions,general incidence rate,intracellular delay,and CTL immune responses

Direct cell‐to‐cell transmission of HIV‐1 is a more efficient means of virus infection than virus‐to‐cell transmission. In this paper, we incorporate both these transmissions into an HIV‐1 virus model with nonlinear general incidence rate, intracellular delay, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune responses. This model admits three types of equilibria: infection‐free equilibrium, CTL‐inactivated equilibrium, and CTL‐activated equilibrium. By using Lyapunov functionals and LaSalle invariance principle, it is verified that global threshold dynamics of the model can be explicitly described by the basic reproduction numbers.     

Number of infections suffered by a focal individual in a two‐strain SIS model with partial cross‐immunity

We study a stochastic model for the spread of two pathogen strains—termed type 1 and type 2—among a homogeneously mixing community consisting of a finite number of individuals. In the model, we assume partial cross‐immunity, exogenous streams of infection, and that the degree of severity of a newly infective individual depends on who this infective individual was infected by. The aim is to characterize the joint probability distribution of the numbers M₁ and M₂ of type‐1 and type‐2 infections suffered by a focal individual during an outbreak of the disease. We present iterative procedures for computing the probability mass function of (M₁,M₂) under the assumption that the initial state of the focal individual is known, and a numerical study of the model is performed to investigate the influence of certain key parameters on the spread of resistant bacteria in hospitals.     

The global dynamics of a model about HIV-1 infection in vivo

A four dimension ODE model is built to study the infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vivo. We include in this model four components: the healthy T cells, the latent-infected T cells, the active-infected T cells and the HIV virus. Two types of HIV transmissions in vivo are also included in the model: the virus-to-cell transmission, and the cell-to-cell HIV transmission. There are two possible equilibriums: the healthy equilibrium, and the infected steady state. The basic reproduction number R ₀ is introduced. When R ₀ < 1, the healthy equilibrium is globally stable and when R ₀ > 1, the infected equilibrium exists and is globally stable. Through simulations, we find that, the cell-to-cell HIV transmission is very important for the final outcome of the HIV attacking. Some important clinical observations about the HIV infection situation in lymph node are also verified.      

Mathematical model for the dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis–malaria co‐infection

A mathematical model to understand the dynamics of malaria–visceral leishmaniasis co‐infection is proposed and analyzed. Results show that both diseases can be eliminated if R₀, the basic reproduction number of the co‐infection, is less than unity, and the system undergoes a backward bifurcation where an endemic equilibrium co‐exists with the disease‐free equilibrium when one of R_m or R_l, the basic reproduction numbers of malaria‐only and visceral leishmaniasis‐only, is precisely less than unity. Results also show that in the case of maximum protection against visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the disease‐free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if malaria patients are protected from VL infection; similarly, in the case of maximum protection against malaria, the disease‐free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if VL and post‐kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis patients and the recovered humans after VL are protected from malaria infection. Numerical results show that if R_m and R_l are greater than unity, then we have co‐existence of both disease at an endemic equilibrium, and malaria incidence is higher than visceral leishmaniasis incidence at steady state. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Global dynamics of a Vector‐Borne disease model with two delays and nonlinear transmission rate

In this paper, we investigate a Vector‐Borne disease model with nonlinear incidence rate and 2 delays: One is the incubation period in the vectors and the other is the incubation period in the host. Under the biologically motivated assumptions, we show that the global dynamics are completely determined by the basic reproduction number R₀. The disease‐free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if R₀≤1; when R₀>1, the system is uniformly persistent, and there exists a unique endemic equilibrium that is globally asymptotically. Numerical simulations are conducted to illustrate the theoretical results.     

Accurately simulating the growth in the size of the HIV infected population in any AIDS epidemic country: Computing the U.S.A. HIV infection curve

A reliable approach to the simulation of the time-dependent growth of the size of a country's HIV population is described in detail and applied to the USA epidemic. The simulation depends on a knowledge of AIDS incidence data and the HIV incubation period distribution but is independent of any model regarding how the disease was spread. Using the Centers for Disease Control's December 31, 1991 update of the reported AIDS incidence data, a cumulative total of 645,445 Americans was calculated to be HIV infected as of January 1, 1991.The HIV infection curves for the USA risk groups were separately computed, and they indicate that the current rates of the spread of the infection in all of the risk groups are small fractions of what they were in the early phase of the epidemic. In fact, the calculated increase in the cumulative number of USA HIV infecteds from January 1, 1990 to January 1, 1991 was only 1.44%. These results suggest that the annual number of AIDS cases to be obtained in the next few years will not be substantially different from what it was in 1991. Since the calculated HIV infection curves for the transfusion and hemophiliac risk groups are currently growing at a particularly low rate, the modelling results confirm the great safety of the nation's blood and blood product supplies.     

Why to consider environmental pollution in cholera modeling?

We propose a deterministic model to study the impact of environmental pollution on the dynamics of cholera. We consider both human to human and human‐environment‐human transmission modes in our model. We obtain the expression for the basic reproduction number of the proposed model. The study of our model reveals that environmental pollution plays a significant role in the spread of cholera and should not be ignored. Although various dimensions of cholera has been studied using mathematical models but scanty efforts have been made to understand impact of environmental pollution on this disease. Through this study, we try to bridge this gap.     

Effects of awareness program for controlling mosaic disease in Jatropha curcas plantations

The shrinkage of fossil fuel resources motivates many countries to search alternative energy sources. Jatropha curcas is a small drought‐resistant shrub from whose seeds a high grade fuel biodiesel can be produced. It is cultivated in many tropical countries including India. However, the plant is affected by the mosaic virus (Begomovirus) through infected white‐flies (Bemisia tabaci) which causes mosaic disease. Disease control is an important factor to obtain healthy crop but in agricultural practice, farming awareness is equally important. Here, we propose a mathematical model for media campaigns for raising awareness among people to protect this plant in small plots and control disease. In order to archive high crop yield, we consider the awareness campaign to be arranged in impulsive way to make people aware from infected white‐flies to protect Jatropha plants from mosaic virus. The study reveals that the spread of mosaic disease can be contained or even eradicated by the awareness campaigns. To attain an effective eradication, awareness campaign should be implemented at sufficiently short time intervals. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.