An eco‑epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio‑control agent

Microsporidia MB is an endosymbiont which naturally infects Anopheles mosquitoes. Due to its ability to block Plasmodium transmission, it shows potential as a bio-based agent for the control of malaria. Its self-sustainability is promising, as it can spread through both vertical and horizontal trans...

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Autores principales: Mfangnia, C.N.T., Tonnang, H.E.Z., Tsanou, B., Herren, J.K.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175314
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author Mfangnia, C.N.T.
Tonnang, H.E.Z.
Tsanou, B.
Herren, J.K.
author_browse Herren, J.K.
Mfangnia, C.N.T.
Tonnang, H.E.Z.
Tsanou, B.
author_facet Mfangnia, C.N.T.
Tonnang, H.E.Z.
Tsanou, B.
Herren, J.K.
author_sort Mfangnia, C.N.T.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Microsporidia MB is an endosymbiont which naturally infects Anopheles mosquitoes. Due to its ability to block Plasmodium transmission, it shows potential as a bio-based agent for the control of malaria. Its self-sustainability is promising, as it can spread through both vertical and horizontal transmissions. However, its low prevalence in mosquito populations remains a challenge. We develop an eco-epidemiological mathematical model describing the co-dynamics of Microsporidia MB (within mosquito population) and malaria (within human population). The model is used to assess the potential of Microsporidia MB-infected mosquitoes on the control of malaria infection. The results on the basic reproduction numbers, the stability of the equilibria, and the existence of bifurcations are obtained, providing conditions for the extinction and persistence of MB-infected mosquitoes. We highlight relevant threshold parameters for the elimination and persistence of MB-infected mosquitoes and malaria-infected individuals. Using real data from Kenya, we found that, given a horizontal transmission rate between 0 and 0.5, a minimum vertical rate of 0.55 is required to avoid extinction of MB-infected mosquitoes. The predicted prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes using transmission rates reported from lab experiments align with the observed low prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes in the field, thereby validating our model and results. Finally, predictions indicate that increasing MB mosquito infection could effectively control malaria, with target prevalence varying by region: 15% in Highland, 40% on the coast, and 70% in the Lake region. This study offers insights into the use of bio-based vector population replacement solutions to reduce malaria incidence in regions where Microsporidia MB is prevalent.
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spelling CGSpace1753142025-11-11T10:06:48Z An eco‑epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio‑control agent Mfangnia, C.N.T. Tonnang, H.E.Z. Tsanou, B. Herren, J.K. malaria disease control vertical transmission horizontal transmission mathematical models Microsporidia MB is an endosymbiont which naturally infects Anopheles mosquitoes. Due to its ability to block Plasmodium transmission, it shows potential as a bio-based agent for the control of malaria. Its self-sustainability is promising, as it can spread through both vertical and horizontal transmissions. However, its low prevalence in mosquito populations remains a challenge. We develop an eco-epidemiological mathematical model describing the co-dynamics of Microsporidia MB (within mosquito population) and malaria (within human population). The model is used to assess the potential of Microsporidia MB-infected mosquitoes on the control of malaria infection. The results on the basic reproduction numbers, the stability of the equilibria, and the existence of bifurcations are obtained, providing conditions for the extinction and persistence of MB-infected mosquitoes. We highlight relevant threshold parameters for the elimination and persistence of MB-infected mosquitoes and malaria-infected individuals. Using real data from Kenya, we found that, given a horizontal transmission rate between 0 and 0.5, a minimum vertical rate of 0.55 is required to avoid extinction of MB-infected mosquitoes. The predicted prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes using transmission rates reported from lab experiments align with the observed low prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes in the field, thereby validating our model and results. Finally, predictions indicate that increasing MB mosquito infection could effectively control malaria, with target prevalence varying by region: 15% in Highland, 40% on the coast, and 70% in the Lake region. This study offers insights into the use of bio-based vector population replacement solutions to reduce malaria incidence in regions where Microsporidia MB is prevalent. 2025-06 2025-06-25T14:42:39Z 2025-06-25T14:42:39Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175314 en Open Access application/pdf Mfangnia, C.N.T., Tonnang, H.E.Z., Tsanou, B. & Herren, J.K. (2025). An eco-epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio-control agent. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 11(3): 221, 1-25.
spellingShingle malaria
disease control
vertical transmission
horizontal transmission
mathematical models
Mfangnia, C.N.T.
Tonnang, H.E.Z.
Tsanou, B.
Herren, J.K.
An eco‑epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio‑control agent
title An eco‑epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio‑control agent
title_full An eco‑epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio‑control agent
title_fullStr An eco‑epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio‑control agent
title_full_unstemmed An eco‑epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio‑control agent
title_short An eco‑epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio‑control agent
title_sort eco epidemiological model for malaria with microsporidia mb as bio control agent
topic malaria
disease control
vertical transmission
horizontal transmission
mathematical models
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175314
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