This work proposes to develop, analyze and apply a spatially-explicit mathematical model for the tick-borne disease, human monocytic ehrlichiosis (causitive agent: Ehrlichia chaffeensis sp.). The project is part of the mentored career development plan for Holly D. Gaff with J. Stephen Dumler as primary mentor. Through the course of this mentored project and the completion of a Master in Public Health, she will have a solid foundation for a successful career making significant contributions to the study of infectious diseases and to the betterment of public health. Dr. Gaff's long-term career goal is to help establish a lab of students, postdoctoral fellows, other faculty and staff to explore the ecology of infectious diseases with specific focus on tick-borne and other vector-borne diseases. The project will explore a variety of mathematical models to gain insights into ehrlichiosis and to identify the strongest model for each population involved. The identified primary vector of HME is the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum), and the primary reservoir host is the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). The starting hypothesis is the model system this will involve an age-structured, stochastic model for the tick populations and an individual-based model for the host populations. This model will then be used to test hypotheses regarding the importance of various tick and host species as well as impacts of weather and habitat variability on the spread and control of HME. Finally, various mitigation strategies will be analyzed using optimal control techniques in the hopes of finding scenarios that will minimize the risk of HME to humans. Relevance: The results of this modeling effort will be new insights into the spatial and temporal distribution of human tick-borne disease outbreaks. Insights into the distribution patterns can be helpful for notification of medical professionals to be watchful for influx of patients with tick-borne diseases, which otherwise may be misdiagnosed. Additionally, the analysis of the model will provide guidance for more effective treatment strategies to hopefully reduce the numbers of HME cases. ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)
Project #
7K25AI067791-02
Application #
7558791
Study Section
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases B Subcommittee (MID)
Program Officer
Perdue, Samuel S
Project Start
2007-06-01
Project End
2011-05-31
Budget Start
2007-10-01
Budget End
2008-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$99,760
Indirect Cost
Name
Old Dominion University
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Allied Health Profes
DUNS #
041448465
City
Norfolk
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
23508
Nadolny, Robyn M; Gaff, Holly D (2018) Natural history of Ixodes affinis in Virginia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 9:109-119
Nadolny, Robyn M; Gaff, Holly D (2018) Natural history of Amblyomma maculatum in Virginia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 9:188-195
Nadolny, Robyn; Gaff, Holly; Carlsson, Jens et al. (2015) Comparative population genetics of two invading ticks: Evidence of the ecological mechanisms underlying tick range expansions. Infect Genet Evol 35:153-62
Wright, Chelsea L; Hynes, Wayne L; White, Breanna T et al. (2014) Single-tube real-time PCR assay for differentiation of Ixodes affinis and Ixodes scapularis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 5:48-52
Nadolny, Robyn M; Wright, Chelsea L; Sonenshine, Daniel E et al. (2014) Ticks and spotted fever group rickettsiae of southeastern Virginia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 5:53-7
Wright, Chelsea L; Gaff, Holly D; Hynes, Wayne L (2014) Prevalence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii in Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis collected from southeastern Virginia, 2010-2011. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 5:978-82
Gaines, David N; Operario, Darwin J; Stroup, Suzanne et al. (2014) Ehrlichia and spotted fever group Rickettsiae surveillance in Amblyomma americanum in Virginia through use of a novel six-plex real-time PCR assay. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 14:307-16
Gaff, Holly; Nadolny, Robyn (2013) Identifying requirements for the invasion of a tick species and tick-borne pathogen through TICKSIM. Math Biosci Eng 10:625-35
Wright, Chelsea L; Nadolny, Robyn M; Jiang, Ju et al. (2011) Rickettsia parkeri in gulf coast ticks, southeastern Virginia, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 17:896-8
Gaff, Holly (2011) Preliminary analysis of an agent-based model for a tick-borne disease. Math Biosci Eng 8:463-73

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