Spatial pattern formation facilitates eradication of infectious diseases.

ABSTRACT: Control of animal-born diseases is a major challenge faced by applied ecologists and public health managers. To improve cost-effectiveness, the effort required to control such pathogens needs to be predicted as accurately as possible. In this context, we reviewed the anti-rabies vaccination schemes applied around the world during the past 25 years.We contrasted predictions from classic approaches based on theoretical population ecology (which governs rabies control to date) with a newly developed individual-based model. Our spatially explicit approach allowed for the reproduction of pattern formation emerging from a pathogen's spread through its host population.We suggest that a much lower management effort could eliminate the disease than that currently in operation. This is supported by

SUBMITTER: Eisinger D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2326892 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature