Modeling the effects of screening, vaccination, treatment, and non-pharmaceutical controls on leptospirosis transmission dynamics

Leptospirosis is the world’s most common zoonotic disease and remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in regions with poor sanitation and high exposure risks. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of combined interventions: screening, vaccination, treatment, and non-pharmaceutical controls in reducing leptospirosis transmission in human and domestic animal populations. The study develops and analyzes a deterministic compartmental model with eleven compartments representing human, domestic animal, and bacterial populations. Stability analysis reveals that the Disease-Free Equilibrium (DEF) is globally asymptotically stable when the effective reproduction number is less than a unit ( < 1), ensuring disease eradication under these conditions, whereas the Endemic Equilibrium Point (EEP) remains stable when > 1. The study employs the normalized forward sensitivity index to determine the most influential parameters affecting disease dynamics and shows that an increase in the transmission of infections from a contaminated environment to susceptible domestic animals, transmission of infections from a contaminated environment to susceptible humans, contact between infected animals and susceptible humans, and contact among domestic animals (), respectively with humans recruitment rate (), significantly contributes to a higher basic reproduction number , leading to a higher induced infection rate as more people become infected. While parameters related to bacterial decay natural mortality rates(), and disease-induced mortalitywere found to be negatively influencing . Furthermore, numerical simulations demonstrate that implementing a combination of screening, vaccination, treatment, and non-pharmaceutical interventions substantially reduces the reproduction number and disease prevalence compared to implementing single interventions. The findings emphasize that controlling leptospirosis requires an integrated, multi-faceted strategy, including environmental sanitation, reservoir control, fencing, the use of proper protective equipment (PPE), and public health education to reduce exposure risks. The study provides a robust mathematical foundation to support policymakers in developing integrated public health strategies aimed at achieving long-term disease reduction.

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Publication Details

Journal
Tanzania Journal of Science
Published
2025-10-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.65085/2507-7961.1052
Primary Topic
Leptospirosis research and findings
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Modeling the effects of screening, vaccination, treatment, and non-pharmaceutical controls on leptospirosis transmission dynamics

Herieth Rwezaura, Goodluck Mika Mlay, Nyimvua Shaban Mbare, J. Harris Michael
Tanzania Journal of Science
Leptospirosis research and findings
article

Modeling the effects of screening, vaccination, treatment, and non-pharmaceutical controls on leptospirosis transmission dynamics

Herieth Rwezaura, Goodluck Mika Mlay, Nyimvua Shaban Mbare, J. Harris Michael
article en

Abstract

Leptospirosis is the world’s most common zoonotic disease and remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in regions with poor sanitation and high exposure risks. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of combined interventions: screening, vaccination, treatment, and non-pharmaceutical controls in reducing leptospirosis transmission in human and domestic animal populations. The study develops and analyzes a deterministic compartmental model with eleven compartments representing human, domestic animal, and bacterial populations. Stability analysis reveals that the Disease-Free Equilibrium (DEF) is globally asymptotically stable when the effective reproduction number is less than a unit ( < 1), ensuring disease eradication under these conditions, whereas the Endemic Equilibrium Point (EEP) remains stable when > 1. The study employs the normalized forward sensitivity index to determine the most influential parameters affecting disease dynamics and shows that an increase in the transmission of infections from a contaminated environment to susceptible domestic animals, transmission of infections from a contaminated environment to susceptible humans, contact between infected animals and susceptible humans, and contact among domestic animals (), respectively with humans recruitment rate (), significantly contributes to a higher basic reproduction number , leading to a higher induced infection rate as more people become infected. While parameters related to bacterial decay natural mortality rates(), and disease-induced mortalitywere found to be negatively influencing . Furthermore, numerical simulations demonstrate that implementing a combination of screening, vaccination, treatment, and non-pharmaceutical interventions substantially reduces the reproduction number and disease prevalence compared to implementing single interventions. The findings emphasize that controlling leptospirosis requires an integrated, multi-faceted strategy, including environmental sanitation, reservoir control, fencing, the use of proper protective equipment (PPE), and public health education to reduce exposure risks. The study provides a robust mathematical foundation to support policymakers in developing integrated public health strategies aimed at achieving long-term disease reduction.

Tanzania Journal of ScienceVol. 51(3)
Openalex Percentile: Top 68%
Leptospirosis research and findings
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