Population dynamics of mosquito-borne disease: Persistence in a completely heterogeneous environment (Q1104886)

The m/n model of mosquito-borne disease is studied. m/n model means that infected hosts and mosquitos are divided into groups (patches) and a mosquito belonging to any one of n vector patches can take blood from any of m host patches. The condition for extinction or persistence of the infection involves the so-called basic reproductive rate for the m/n model R(m/n). If R(m/n)\(\leq 1\), the infection becomes extinct, whereas the number of infectives and susceptibles approaches constant positive levels in all patches if \(R(m/n)>1\). The basic reproductive rate for the m/n model can be estimated against the basic reproductive rate for the corresponding m/1, 1/1 and 1/m models. On the other hand each of the four R(m/n), R(m/1), R(1/1), R(1/m) is the product of two factors, one is the basic reproductive rate for the 1/1 model, the second is called heterogeneity factor and denoted by f(m/1), f(1/1), f(1/m), respectively. Lower and upper estimates for the heterogeneity factor are given. An accurate analysis of the mathematical model is made. The study of the stability of the 0 solution and the existence and the form of the eigenvalues of a suitable matrix leads to the main results about R(m/n).