A mathematical model for zoonotic transmission of malaria in the Atlantic Forest: Exploring the effects of variations in vector abundance and acrodendrophily

Author(s)

Medeiros-Sousa, Antonio Ralph ^[1] ; Laporta, Gabriel Zorello ^[2] ; Coutinho, Renato Mendes ^[3] ; Mucci, Luis Filipe ^[4] ; Marrelli, Mauro Toledo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Epidemiol Dept, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Ctr Univ Saude ABC FMABC, Grad Res & Innovat Program, Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[3] Fed Univ ABC, Ctr Math Computat & Cognit CMCC, Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[4] State Hlth Secretariat, Superintendency Control Endem Dis, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases; v. 15, n. 2 FEB 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Transmission foci of autochthonous malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax-like parasites have frequently been reported in the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern and Southern Brazil. Evidence suggests that malaria is a zoonosis in these areas as human infections by simian Plasmodium species have been detected, and the main vector of malaria in the Atlantic Forest, Anopheles (Kerteszia) cruzii, can blood feed on human and simian hosts. In view of the lack of models that seek to predict the dynamics of zoonotic transmission in this part of the Atlantic Forest, the present study proposes a new deterministic mathematical model that includes a transmission compartment for non-human primates and parameters that take into account vector displacement between the upper and lower forest strata. The effects of variations in the abundance and acrodendrophily of An. cruzii on the prevalence of infected humans in the study area and the basic reproduction number (R-0) for malaria were analyzed. The model parameters are based on the literature and fitting of the empirical data. Simulations performed with the model indicate that (1) an increase in the abundance of the vector in relation to the total number of blood-seeking mosquitoes leads to an asymptotic increase in both the proportion of infected individuals at steady state and R-0; (2) the proportion of infected humans at steady state is higher when displacement of the vector mosquito between the forest strata increases; and (3) in most scenarios, Plasmodium transmission cannot be sustained only between mosquitoes and humans, which implies that non-human primates play an important role in maintaining the transmission cycle. The proposed model contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of malaria transmission in the Atlantic Forest. Author summary The etiological agents of malaria are protozoa of the genus Plasmodium that are transmitted to humans and other vertebrate hosts by mosquitoes. In the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern and Southern Brazil, human infections by simian Plasmodium species have been detected, showing that in certain situations malaria can be transmitted zoonotically in this region. Anopheles cruzii, a sylvatic mosquito, is considered the main vector of malaria parasites in the Atlantic Forest. The fact that this species can feed on humans and monkeys reinforces the hypothesis of zoonotic transmission. Here we present a new mathematical model to explain the dynamics of zoonotic transmission of malaria in the Atlantic Forest. Simulations performed with the model showed that the prevalence of human cases and the basic reproduction number for malaria can be strongly influenced by variations in the abundance of An. cruzii and the frequency with which these mosquitoes move between the ground and the forest canopy to feed on humans and monkeys, respectively. The proposed model contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of malaria transmission in the Atlantic Forest. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50444-5 - Biodiversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Parque Estadual da Cantareira, and in the Environmental Protection Area Capivari-Monos, State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Mauro Toledo Marrelli
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/18630-6 - Study of the dynamics of autochthonous malaria transmission in Atlantic Forest: analysis of the vertical distribution of Anopheles cruzii (Diptera: Culicidae) and development of mathematical model for zoonotic transmission
• Grantee: Antônio Ralph Medeiros de Sousa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/18751-6 - Development of predictive models for the dynamics of transmission and spatial dispersion of the sylvatic yellow fever in Brazil.
• Grantee: Antônio Ralph Medeiros de Sousa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral