Mathematical Modeling of Brucellosis Transmission Dynamics and Its Age‐Specific Applications

• Published in: Abstract and applied analysis Vol. 2025; no. 1
• Main Authors: Sosoma, Innocent, Mureithi, Eunice, Shaban Mbare, Nyimvua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2025; Wiley
• Subjects: Age; Age groups; Animals; Bacteria; Bone marrow; Brucellosis; Clinical outcomes; Developing countries; Differential equations; Disease control; Fatalities; Identification methods; Infections; Integral equations; LDCs; Older people; Ordinary differential equations; Parameter identification; Partial differential equations; Pathogens; Probability; Public health; Sanitation; Sensitivity analysis; Sheep
• DOI: 10.1155/aaa/6552487
• ISSN: 1085-3375

Brucellosis remains a significant public health and economic burden, especially in developing nations where livestock–human interactions are frequent. This paper presents a partial differential equation (PDE) model to capture the transmission dynamics of brucellosis, with a focus on age‐specific impacts in humans and domestic animals. Using the integrated semigroup approach, the positivity and boundedness of the model were established ensuring biologically meaningful solutions. The basic reproduction number ( R 0 ) was derived through the Lotka–Sharpe–McKendrick integral equation, and the disease‐free equilibrium (DFE) was proven to be locally asymptotically stable when R 0 < 1. Global sensitivity analysis was performed using the PAWN method to identify key parameters influencing disease dynamics. Results revealed that humans aged 0–72 years are carriers of the disease, while domestic animals, particularly those aged 0–5 and 11–15 years, act as significant reservoirs. Furthermore, environmental contamination was found to be a critical driver of transmission, emphasizing the urgent need for improved sanitation and hygiene measures. This study underscores the importance of targeting specific age groups and addressing environmental factors to enhance brucellosis control strategies, providing valuable insights for policymakers and public health practitioners.