Coupled Heterogeneities and Their Impact on Parasite Transmission and Control

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Gonzalo Vazquez Prokopec, Emory University; Perkins T. Alex, National Institutes of Health; Lance Waller, Emory University; Alun L. Lloyd, National Institutes of Health; Robert C. Reiner, National Institutes of Health; Thomas W. Scott, National Institutes of Health; Uriel Kitron, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2016-05-01
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2016.01.001
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Trends in Parasitology
• ISSN: 1471-4922
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 356
• End Page: 367
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was funded by a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID) award number P01AI098670 (TWS PI, GVP co-PL) and by the Research and Policy for Infectious Disease Dynamics (RAPIDD) program of the Science and Technology Directory, Department of Homeland Security, and Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health
• Keywords: Parasitology; EPIDEMIC MODELS; POPULATION-DYNAMICS; DENGUE VECTOR; HOST; AEDES-AEGYPTI; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; AGGREGATION; Science & Technology; BORNE DISEASE; BEHAVIOR; INFECTIOUS-DISEASES; WEST-NILE-VIRUS
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Biology, Parasitology

Abstract

Most host-parasite systems exhibit remarkable heterogeneity in the contribution to transmission of certain individuals, locations, host infectious states, or parasite strains. While significant advancements have been made in the understanding of the impact of transmission heterogeneity in epidemic dynamics and parasite persistence and evolution, the knowledge base of the factors contributing to transmission heterogeneity is limited. We argue that research efforts should move beyond considering the impact of single sources of heterogeneity and account for complex couplings between conditions with potential synergistic impacts on parasite transmission. Using theoretical approaches and empirical evidence from various host-parasite systems, we investigate the ecological and epidemiological significance of couplings between heterogeneities and discuss their potential role in transmission dynamics and the impact of control.