title: The structural identifiability and parameter estimation of a multispecies model for the transmission of mastitis in dairy cows.
abstract: A structural identifiability analysis is performed on a mathematical model for the coupled transmission of two classes of pathogen. The pathogens, classified as major and minor, are aetiological agents of mastitis in dairy cows that interact directly and via the immunological reaction in their hosts. Parameter estimates are available from experimental data for all but four of the parameters in the model. Data from a longitudinal study of infection are used to estimate these unknown parameters. A novel approach and application of structural identifiability analysis is combined in this paper with the estimation of cross-protection parameters using epidemiological data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. lwhite@cell.bio.warwick.ac.uk
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Schukken
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Medley
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chappell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D008835:Micrococcaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D008954:Models, Biological; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary