Host and vector heterogeneity
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Host and vector heterogeneity

Consideration of host and vector population heterogeneity in modeling pathogen transmission

The susceptibility of a host to a pathogen and the excretion of that pathogen can vary between individuals and also vary over time within an individual. In addition, the contact structure between hosts (directly or indirectly via a vector) may be heterogeneous in time and space. This research theme is dedicated to the determination of the influence of host and vector population heterogeneity on the dynamics of pathogen propagation.

Work carried out during the period 2006-2010

As regards the methodological-centric approach, the main work has concerned :

  • Stochastic modeling of immunity dynamics in small populations
  • The impact of the duration of host infection on the spread of an epidemic in a metapopulation
  • The relationship between host migration intensity and the duration of infection of a metapopulation

Concerning the pathogen/system-centric approach, the main work concerned :

  • Population dynamics of grazing Ixodes ricinus ticks 
  • Contact structures in pig farming and their influence on the spread of salmonella

Current Projects

Ongoing work is aimed at understanding :

The influence of host heterogeneity on the spread of a pathogen. The applications concern more particularly :

  • A theoretical approach to model susceptibility heterogeneity for the same animal over time and at a given time between individuals of the same population (Contact : Pauline Ezanno)
  • Heterogeneity of immune response at the herd level applied to the PRRS (Porcine Respiratory Dysgenic Syndrome) virus model in pigs (Contact : Catherine Belloc)
  • Individual shedding heterogeneity applied to Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis infection (Contact : Pauline Ezanno)

The influence of the heterogeneity of contact structures between hosts (intra- and inter-herd) and more particularly :

  • The integration of animal movement risks into epidemiological models using the most appropriate spatial methods (Contact : Pauline Ezanno)
  • Spatial and temporal modelling of the diffusion of the Bluetongue virus in a bovine population in order to identify the key factors of its diffusion. (Contact : Pauline Ezanno)

The influence of host heterogeneity on the spread of a pathogen. The applications concern more particularly :

Modification date: 11 September 2023 | Publication date: 05 April 2013 | By: AC