Mathematical model to assess the impact of contact rate and environment factor on transmission dynamics of rabies in humans and dogs

This paper presents a mathematical model to understand how rabies spreads among humans, free-range, and domestic dogs. By analyzing the model, we discovered that there are equilibrium points representing both disease-free and endemic states. We calculated the basic reproduction number, $\mathcal{R}_{0}$, using the next generation matrix method. When $\mathcal{R}_{0}<1$, the disease-free equilibrium is globally stable, whereas when $\mathcal{R}_{0}>1$, the endemic equilibrium is globally stable. To identify the most influential parameters in disease transmission, we used the normalized forward sensitivity index. Our simulations revealed that the contact rates between the infectious agent and humans, free-range dogs, and domestic dogs have the most significant impact on rabies transmission. The study also examines how periodic changes in transmission rates affect the disease dynamics, emphasizing the importance of transmission frequency and amplitude on the patterns observed in rabies spread. Therefore, the study proposes that to mitigate the factors most strongly linked to disease sensitivity, effective disease control measures should primarily prioritize on reducing the population of both free-range and domestic dogs in open environments.
Comment: This is a preprint whose final form is published open access in 'Heliyon' at [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32012]