A Mathematical Model of How a Mosquito Will Accept a Malaria Parasite
WouterDuring a mosquito’s gonotrophic cycle, it oviposits and searches for a host. When the host is found, the mosquito takes a small amount of blood from it, mixes it with its saliva and then spreads the parasite to the next person. This is called malaria. It can be fatal. The symptoms of malaria include shaking chills, fever, vomiting, muscle aches, and flu-like illness.
The malaria parasite can be transmitted from one person to another through the bite of an infected mosquito. The parasite can also be transmitted through blood transfusions and organ transplants.
Parasites can also manipulate the behaviour of the mosquito. This includes increasing the mosquito’s biting rate, which can lead to more transmission opportunities. The mosquito may also use self-restriction strategies based on programmed cell death, which may decrease its immune response and increase the probability of transmission.
Infected female mosquitoes are more persistent in their feeding attempts. They also have a higher mortality rate during the feeding-associated stage of infection. This may be due to the cost of feeding. Several studies have reported increased survival during the oocyst stage of infection. However, the relationship between infection status and behavioural resistance has not been well-studied.
A mathematical model was developed to investigate the effects of infection on mosquito competence. It was applied to four datasets from real transmission settings.
The mathematical model explores the implications of assumptions about the gonotrophic cycle, the extrinsic incubation period, and mortality. It also considers the role of evolution and environmental changes on transmission traits.
