Competent hosts and endemicity of multi-host vector-borne diseases (Q2283906)

This paper presents a mathematical model which explains the reason why the accumulative effect of decoy hosts is less than additive and how competent and resilient host amplify the vector-borne disease based on conservation laws. The basic reproductive number is characterized. In particular, it is shown that, under certain assumptions, the endemicity of a disease implies the existence of a competent host. A dynamical system is used to model the vector-borne disease with multiple hosts. The community constraints are introduced to the model which lead to a definition of resilient host. The authors measure the effect on the dynamics of the disease due to different changes in the bio-diversity. Some mathematical justifications for the method are provided at the end.