title: An agent-based model to simulate tsetse fly distribution and control techniques: a case study in Nguruman, Kenya.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  African trypanosomiasis, also known as "sleeping sickness" in humans and "nagana" in livestock is an important vector-borne disease in Sub-Saharan Africa. Control of trypanosomiasis has focused on eliminating the vector, the tsetse fly (Glossina, spp.). Effective tsetse fly control planning requires models to predict tsetse population and distribution changes over time and space. Traditional planning models have used statistical tools to predict tsetse distributions and have been hindered by limited field survey data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We developed an Agent-Based Model (ABM) to provide timing and location information for tsetse fly control without presence/absence training data. The model is driven by daily remotely-sensed environment data. The model provides a flexible tool linking environmental changes with individual biology to analyze tsetse control methods such as aerial insecticide spraying, wild animal control, releasing irradiated sterile tsetse males, and land use and cover modification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a bottom-up process-based model with freely available data as inputs that can be easily transferred to a new area. The tsetse population simulation more closely approximates real conditions than those using traditional statistical models making it a useful tool in tsetse fly control planning.
authors: Department of Zoology, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: Shengpan
authors: S
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Geography, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: Mark H
authors: MH
authors: DeVisser
authors: Department of Geography, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America.
authors: Joseph P
authors: JP
authors: Messina
keywords: African Trypanosomiasis; Agent Based Models; Individual-based model; Tsetse fly control