Modeling and analysis of taeniasis and cysticercosis transmission dynamics in humans, pigs and cattle

Abstract

Taeniasis and cysticercosis pose a significant challenge to food safety and public health. Cysticercosis reduces the market value for pigs and cattle by making pork and beef unsafe for consumption. In this paper, a mathematical model for the transmission dynamics of taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans, pigs and cattle is formulated and analyzed. The analysis shows that both the disease free equilibrium (DFE) and the endemic equilibrium (EE) exist. To study the dynamics of the diseases, we derived the basic reproduction number $R_{0}$ R 0 by next generation matrix method. When $R_{0}< 1$ R 0 < 1 , the DFE is globally asymptotically stable whereas when $R_{0} > 1$ R 0 > 1 the EE is globally asymptotically stable. The normalized forward sensitivity index was used to determine sensitive parameters to the diseases. Humans’ recruitment rate, probability of humans’ infection with taeniasis and the defecation rate of taenia eggs by humans with taeniasis are the most positive sensitive parameters to diseases’ transmission whereas the human natural death rate is the most negative sensitive parameter. However, it is biologically unethical and not practical to increase human natural mortality rate for disease control. In this case, other parameters with negative sensitivity indices such as death rate of taenia eggs and proportions of unconsumed infected beef and pork can be considered for disease control. Generally, to control the diseases, more efforts should be made directed to reducing the number of humans who have taeniasis and defecate in the open environment. Also meat inspection and indoor keeping of cattle and pigs should be emphasized.

Optimal control analysis of Taenia saginata bovine cysticercosis and human taeniasis

“…Our results indicate further that the treatment of infected humans is more effective when combined with adequate cooking of infected meat of cattle. Our previous study in Mwasunda et al (2021) on the transmission dynamics of taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans, pigs and cattle has shown that among other sensitive parameters, recruitment rate of humans, probability of humans to acquire taeniasis and the defecation rate by humans with taeniasis are the most sensitive parameters to diseases’ transmission whereas human natural mortality rate is the most negative sensitive parameter. These results agree with sensitivity indices of model parameters presented in this paper.…”

“…Therefore, to control Taenia saginata bovine cysticercosis and human taeniasis, we suggest that more efforts should be directed to treat humans with taeniasis and improve meat cooking. The research work presented in this work differs from our previous study in Mwasunda et al (2021) in the sense that this study investigates the optimal controls for cysticercosis and taeniasis in cattle and humans only while the former study focused on analyzing the dynamics of taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans, pigs and cattle without any control measure. However, sensitivity analysis results in the two papers agree that humans recruitment and the defecation rate by humans with taeniasis are the most sensitive parameters in diseases’ transmission whereas human natural mortality rate is the most negative sensitive parameter.…”

“…A mathematical model for transmission dynamics and control of bovine cysticercosis and human taeniasis is formulated by considering the basic model for taeniasis and cysticercosis dynamics in humans, pigs and cattle in Mwasunda et al (2021) . The model divides humans into susceptible S H and humans with taeniasis I HT .…”

“…The results showed that pig vaccination and human treatment has influence on the transmission dynamics among the vaccinated pigs and other hosts as well. Mwasunda et al (2021) formulated and analyzed a deterministic model for transmission dynamics of cysticercosis and taeniasis in humans, pigs and cattle. Sensitivity analysis results indicated that recruitment rate of humans, probability of humans’ infection with taeniasis and defecation rate by humans with taeniasis are the most positive sensitive parameters to diseases’ transmission whereas the human natural death rate is the most negative sensitive parameter.…”

An SIRS Epidemic Model Supervised by a Control System for Vaccination and Treatment Actions Which Involve First-Order Dynamics and Vaccination of Newborns

“…For the purpose of analysing the global stability of the DFE point, the controlled epidemic model is rewritten as [26,27]:…”