ANOSPEX: a stochastic, spatially explicit model for studying Anopheles metapopulation dynamics

Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria, a major public health problem among many African countries. One of the most effective methods to control malaria is by controlling the Anopheles mosquito vectors that transmit the parasites. Mathematical models have both predictive and explorative utility to in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPloS one Vol. 8; no. 7; p. e68040
Main Authors Oluwagbemi, Olugbenga O, Fornadel, Christen M, Adebiyi, Ezekiel F, Norris, Douglas E, Rasgon, Jason L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Public Library of Science 08.07.2013
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects
Animals
Anopheles
Anopheles - growth & development
Anopheles gambiae
Aquatic insects
Biology
C plus plus
Comparative analysis
Computer Science
Computer Simulation
Control methods
Culicidae
Disease transmission
Dynamics
Eggs
Female
Genetic engineering
Humans
Immunology
Infectious diseases
Information science
Insect control
Insecticides
Malaria
Mathematical analysis
Mathematical models
Mathematics
Metapopulations
Meteorological data
Models, Biological
Mosquitoes
Parasites
Population
Population biology
Population Dynamics
Public health
Reproducibility of Results
Science
Software
Stochastic Processes
Stochasticity
Temperature
Vector-borne diseases
Vectors
Weather
Wolbachia
United States > US
Maryland
Baltimore Maryland
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Summary:Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria, a major public health problem among many African countries. One of the most effective methods to control malaria is by controlling the Anopheles mosquito vectors that transmit the parasites. Mathematical models have both predictive and explorative utility to investigate the pros and cons of different malaria control strategies. We have developed a C++ based, stochastic spatially explicit model (ANOSPEX; Ano pheles Spatially-Explicit) to simulate Anopheles metapopulation dynamics. The model is biologically rich, parameterized by field data, and driven by field-collected weather data from Macha, Zambia. To preliminarily validate ANOSPEX, simulation results were compared to field mosquito collection data from Macha; simulated and observed dynamics were similar. The ANOSPEX model will be useful in a predictive and exploratory manner to develop, evaluate and implement traditional and novel strategies to control malaria, and for understanding the environmental forces driving Anopheles population dynamics.
Bibliography:Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Conceived and designed the experiments: OOO JLR EFA. Performed the experiments: OOO. Analyzed the data: OOO JLR. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: CMF DEN. Wrote the paper: OOO JLR.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0068040