This book deals with how we construct and use deterministic mathematical models of the transmission of infectious diseases in domestic and wild animals. It is a manual, drawing on examples from the world of veterinary medicine, but will appeal to the interested reader from any background. Mathematical models of infectious disease transmission dynamics are increasingly used to inform population-based disease control strategies. Such strategies are typically implemented by clinicians (in both human and animal medicine), policy makers, and career civil servants. This book will be of value to all such parties.

This book provides a systematic introduction to the fundamental methods and techniques and the frontiers of OCo along with many new ideas and results on OCo infectious disease modeling, parameter estimation and transmission dynamics. It provides complementary approaches, from deterministic to statistical to network modeling; and it seeks viewpoints of the same issues from different angles, from mathematical modeling to statistical analysis to computer simulations and finally to concrete applications.

Mathematical models are increasingly being used to examine questions in infectious disease control. Applications include predicting the impact of vaccination strategies against common infections and determining optimal control strategies against HIV and pandemic influenza. This book introduces individuals interested in infectious diseases to this exciting and expanding area. The mathematical level of the book is kept as simple as possible, which makes the book accessible to those who have not studied mathematics to university level. Understanding is further enhanced by models that can be accessed online, which will allow readers to explore the impact of different factors and control strategies, and further adapt and develop the models themselves. The book is based on successful courses developed by the authors at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. It will be of interest to epidemiologists, public health researchers, policy makers, veterinary scientists, medical statisticians and infectious disease researchers.

Unearthing the Complexities of Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Disease Transmission Dynamics.

Despite great advances in public health worldwide, insect vector-borne infectious diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Diseases that are transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes, sand flies, fleas, and ticks affect hundreds of millions of people and account for nearly three million deaths all over the world. In the past there was very little hope of controlling the epidemics caused by these diseases, but modern advancements in science and technology are providing a variety of ways in which these diseases can be handled. Clearly, the process of transmission of an infectious disease is a nonlinear (not necessarily linear) dynamic process which can be understood only by appropriately quantifying the vital parameters that govern these dynamics.

Rabies is the most current and comprehensive account of one of the oldest diseases known that remains a significant public health threat despite the efforts of many who have endeavored to control it in wildlife and domestic animals. During the past five years since publication of the first edition there have been new developments in many areas on the rabies landscape. This edition takes on a more global perspective with many new authors offering fresh outlooks on each topic. Clinical features of rabies in humans and animals are discussed as well as basic science aspects, molecular biology, pathology, and pathogenesis of this disease. Current methods used in defining geographic origins and animal species infected in wildlife are presented, along with diagnostic methods for identifying the strain of virus based on its genomic sequence and antigenic structure. This multidisciplinary account is essential for clinicians as well as public health advisors, epidemiologists, wildlife biologists, and research scientists wanting to know more about the virus and the disease it causes. Offers a unique global perspective on rabies where dog rabies is responsible for killing more people than yellow More than 7 million people are potentially exposed to the virus annually and about 50,000 people, half of them children, die of rabies each year New edition includes greatly expanded coverage of bat rabies which is now the most prominent source of human rabies in the New World and Western Europe, where dog rabies has been controlled Recent successes of controlling wildlife rabies with an emphasis on prevention is discussed Approximately 40% updated material incorporates recent knowledge on new approaches to therapy of human rabies as well as issues involving organ and tissue transplantation Includes an increase in illustrations to more accurately represent this diseases’ unique horror