A bovine babesiosis model with dispersion

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Epidemiology
• Mathematical Modeling

Background:

• Bovine babesiosis (BB), or tick fever, is a significant tick-borne parasitic disease affecting over 1.3 billion cattle globally.
• High mortality rates and economic losses are associated with BB, driven by protozoan infection transmitted by ticks.
• Cattle and tick migration are crucial factors influencing the geographic spread and endemicity of Bovine Babesiosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of cattle and tick dispersion on Bovine Babesiosis transmission dynamics.
• To introduce and analyze a "proliferation index" ([Formula: see text]) for disease-free equilibrium stability.
• To evaluate intervention strategies for controlling BB progression using mathematical modeling.

Main Methods:

• Development of a mathematical model incorporating cattle and tick dispersion coefficients.
• Introduction of a proliferation index ([Formula: see text]) analogous to the basic reproduction number ([Formula: see text]).
• Analysis of seasonal tick birth rate oscillations and application of data from Colombia, South Africa, and Brazil.

Main Results:

• The proliferation index ([Formula: see text]) decreases with increasing dispersion coefficients.
• Mathematical proof demonstrates that endemic tick fever is likely if [Formula: see text] exceeds a critical threshold.
• Seasonal variations in tick birth rates were considered in the modeling.

Conclusions:

• Cattle and tick dispersion significantly influence Bovine Babesiosis endemicity.
• The proliferation index provides a valuable metric for assessing disease-free equilibrium stability.
• Modeling suggests that targeted interventions are crucial for controlling Bovine Babesiosis, especially considering seasonal factors.