BMGF - Vector Modelling - AnophelesModel R Package
Project Abstract
We developed the AnophelesModel R Package to interface mosquito bionomics, human exposure and intervention effects with models of malaria intervention impact.
The package contains an in-built entomological model of the mosquito feeding cycle and a comprehensive database of mosquito bionomics, human activity, and intervention parameters. The different types of data have been extracted from field studies as well as the Malaria Atlas Project and are used to parameterize the entomological model and to estimate the impact of different vector control interventions such as long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying or house screening.
The AnophelesModel can be used to estimate the impact of interventions for different mosquito species and to generate parameterizations for the entomological and vector control components of more complex models of malaria transmission dynamics such as OpenMalaria.
Mosquito distribution and human behavior vary across geographical settings and influence the effects of vector control interventions. The AnophelesModel Package is thus essential for geography-specific modelling as it allows to consider these variations for vector control impact predictions. In our group, the AnophelesModel Package has been successfully used to capture the geography-specific impact of vector control interventions with applications in Laos, Cambodia and Panama.
The code of the R package is publicly available on the Swiss TPH GitHub and it includes a detailed documentation.
