title: Simulations of enhanced malaria transmission and host bias induced by modified vector blood location behaviour.
abstract: Monte Carlo simulations were developed to assess the potential impact of parasite pathology on vector salivary function as well as of host haemostasis on transmission. Assuming that a proportion of desisting vectors switch host following failure to locate blood, we demonstrate three possible consequences: (1) infected vectors contact more hosts than non-infected host, (2) non-infected vectors are biased to infected hosts, independently of attraction, and (3) an exponential relationship exists between parasite load and transmission. We discuss possible epidemiological implications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rossignol
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rossignol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D008288:Malaria / Q000635:transmission*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D012984:Software