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A Spatially Explicit Agent-Based Simulation Model of a Reservoir Host of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Rhombomys Opimus Publisher



Rajabi M1 ; Mansourian A1 ; Pilesjo P1 ; Shirzadi MR2 ; Fadaei R3 ; Ramazanpour J4
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. GIS Center, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sweden
  2. 2. Zoonoses Control Department, Center for Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, Iran
  3. 3. Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  4. 4. Isfahan Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Source: Ecological Modelling Published:2018


Abstract

Rhombomys opimus (R. opimus), a social rodent, is the main reservoir host for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in most parts of the Middle East and central Asia. The difficulties in monitoring rodent population patterns have hindered the effective application of preventive measures of ZCL. This study presents a spatially explicit agent-based simulation model of R. opimus behaviors that is integrated with Geographic Automata System (GAS) and a heuristic optimization method, cuckoo search (CS). The model is used to explore the relationships among rodent population dynamics, ZCL incidence and authority interventions using statistical data generated from simulated rodent societies rather than observational data, which are difficult to obtain through field surveys. The model simulation considers three agent types: rodents, colonies and cell agents. The model components and overall approach are calibrated, investigated with sensitivity analysis and validated with empirical field data in a ZCL-endemic area in Isfahan, central Iran. The results suggest that unsupervised and sporadic preventive measures could cause rodent emigration towards human population centers and start new waves of infections. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
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