MODELING THE IMPACT OF HOST RESISTANCE ON STRUCTURED TICK POPULATION DYNAMICS

For a variety of tick species, the resistance, behavioural and immunological response of hosts has been reported in the biological literature but its impact on tick population dynamics has not been mathematically formulated and analyzed using dynamical models reflecting the full biological stages of ticks. Here we develop and simulate a delay differential equation model, with a particular focus on resistance resulting in grooming behaviour. We calculate the basic reproduction number using the spectral analysis of delay differential equations with positive feedback, and establish the existence and uniqueness of a positive equilibrium when the basic reproduction number exceeds unit. We also conduct numerical and sensitivity analysis about the dependence of this positive equilibrium on the the parameter relevant to grooming behaviour. We numerically obtain the relationship between grooming behaviour and equilibrium value at different stages.