Modeling environmental impacts of plankton reservoirs on cholera population dynamics

Abstract

Cholera remains a major public health problem with significant mortality, and numerous re-emergences have been observed in the last decade in many developing countries. Previous analyses have suggested a complex process for cholera disease emergence and spread, particularly related to environmental factors associated to aquatic habitats. To disentangle the complexity of these ecological and epidemiological processes and to understand the dynamics of cholera epidemics, mathematical models are needed. Here we review the state-of-the-art of cholera models before proposing a modified model that integrates some influential environmental drivers. Particularly, as statistical analyses have revealed that chlorophyll a concentration had a significant influence over cholera epidemics our model incorporates this association, we suggest a new model where the disease starts with a bloom of phytoplankton, and then spreads in human community.