This thesis presents mathematical models for the dynamics of vaccine preventable diseases, specifically looking at the New Zealand situation. Through the use of integral and differential equations, we develop models and compare the results of these to known data. Using game theory analysis we determine and compare the proportion of the population that needs to be vaccinated in order to minimise the expected costs to the individuals in the population and to the community. Two different scenarios and methods are considered, where the effects of vaccination last only one epidemic cycle (using an integral equation method) and where vaccination is effective over an entire lifetime (using a differential equation method). For both scenarios, we find that the minimum cost for the individuals is reached when a lower proportion of the population is vaccinated than needed for the minimum cost to the community. We then elaborate on the integral equation method to produce a model for repeated epidemics of measles in a population, where a discrete mapping is used to include the year to year demographics of the population. The results of this model show a different epidemic pattern then that produced from a differential equation model, with numerical problems encountered. From here on, we use differential equation models in our analysis. A critique and extension to an existing model for the dynamics of the hepatitis B virus is presented, with discussion on the appropriateness of the model’s construct for predicting the incidence of infection. Alternative differential equation models for hepatitis B virus and immunisation that include splitting the population into age groups with nonhomogeneous mixing are presented. The results of these models are compared with the known data on incidence of infection and carriage in New Zealand, showing how affective different immunisation schedules may have been. Differential equation models are then presented for meningococcal B virus epidemiology in New Zealand, with the models incorporating different features of the virus until the best model is found that fits the New Zealand data. Each model is compared with the known incidence of infection, with the population being either treated as a whole or split into age groups with non-homogeneous mixing. The effect of vaccination is included in this model so that we can explore the future of the infection in the population, and how best to tackle any future epidemics. The model shows that the current vaccination campaign was the best solution for controlling the epidemic, but there will be epidemics in the future that will need subsequent vaccination campaigns to limit the number of infections.

In Chapter 1, the literature relating to rabies virus and the rabies like lyssaviruses is reviewed. In Chapter 2 data are presented from 1170 diagnostic submissions for ABLV testing by fluorescent antibody test (Centocor FAT). All 27 non-bat submissions were ABLV-negative. Of 1143 bat accessions 74 (16%) were ABLV-positive, including 69 of 974 (7.1%) flying foxes (Pteropus spp.), 5 of 7 (71.4%) Saccolaimus flaviventris (Yellow-bellied sheathtail bats), none of 151 other microchiropteran bats, and none of 11 unidentified bats. Statistical analysis of data from 868 wild Black, Grey-headed, Little Red and Spectacled flying foxes (Pteropus alecto, P. poliocephalus, P. scapulatus, and P. conspicillatus) indicated that three factors; species, health status and age were associated with significant (p&lt 0.001) differences in the proportion of ABLV-positive bats. Other factors including sex, whether the bat bit a person or animal, region, year, and season submitted, were not associated with ABLV. Case data for 74 ABLV-positive bats, including the circumstances in which they were found and clinical signs, is presented. In Chapter 3, the aetiological diagnosis was investigated for 100 consecutive flying fox submissions with neurological signs. ABLV (32%), spinal and head injuries (29%), and neuro-angiostrongylosis (18%) accounted for most neurological syndromes in flying foxes. No evidence of lead poisoning was found in unwell (n=16) or healthy flying foxes (n=50). No diagnosis was reached for 16 cases, all of which were negative for ABLV by TaqMan® PCR. The molecular diversity of ABLV was examined in Chapter 4 by sequencing 36 bases of the leader sequence, the entire N gene, and start of the P gene of 28 isolates from pteropid bats and 3 isolates from Yellow-bellied sheathtail (YBST) bats. Phylogenetic analysis indicated all ABLV isolates clustered together as a discrete group within the Lyssavirus genera closely related to rabies virus and European bat lyssavirus-2 isolates. The ABLV lineage consisted of two variants; one (ybst-ABLV) consisted of isolates only from YBST bats, the other (pteropid-ABLV) was common to Black, Grey-headed and Little Red flying foxes. No associations were found between the sequences and either the geographical location or year found, or individual flying fox species. In Chapter 5, 15 inocula prepared from the brains or salivary glands of naturally-infected bats were evaluated by intracerebral (IC) and footpad (FP) inoculation of Quackenbush mice in order to select and characterize a highly virulent inoculum for further use in bats (Inoculum 5). In Chapter 6, nine Grey-headed flying foxes were inoculated with 105.2 to 105.5 MICED50 of Inoculum 5 divided into four sites, left footpad, pectoral muscle, temporal muscle and muzzle. Another bat was inoculated with half this dose divided into the footpad and pectoral muscle only. Seven of 10 bats developed clinical disease of 1 to 4 days duration between PI-days 10 and 19 and were shown to be ABL-positive by FAT, HAM immunoperoxidase staining, virus isolation in v mice, and TaqMan PCR. Five of the seven bats displayed overt aggression, one died during a seizure, and one showed intractable agitation, pacing, tremors, and ataxia. Viral antigen was demonstrated throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in the epithelial cells of the submandibular salivary glands (n=4). All affected bats had mild to moderate non-suppurative meningoencephalitis and severe ganglioneuritis. No ABLV was detected in three bats that remained well until the end of the experiment on day 82. One survivor developed a strong but transient antibody response. In Chapter 7, the relative virulence of inocula prepared from the brains and salivary glands of experimentally infected flying foxes was evaluated in mice by IC and FP inoculation and TaqMan assay. The effects in mice were correlated to the TaqMan CT value and indicated a crude association between virulence and CT value that has potential application in the selection of inocula. In Chapter 8, 36 Black and Grey-headed flying foxes were vaccinated with one (day 0) or two (+ day 28) doses of Nobivac rabies vaccine and co-vaccinated with keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). All bats responded to the Nobivac vaccine with a rabies-RFFIT titer &gt 0.5 IU/mL that is nominally indicative of protective immunity. Plasma from bats with rabies titres &gt 2 IU/mL had cross-neutralising ABLV titres &gt 1:154. A specifically developed ELISA detected a strong but transient response to KLH.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Full text release at OhioLINK's ETD Center delayed at author's request.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Paediatrics, 2004. / "March 2004" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 213-272).

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of South Florida, 2008. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 58 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed on June 24, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 210 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-02-01Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:19:24Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 salvador_r_dr_jabo.pdf: 343849 bytes, checksum: 71707b8f3990268b373dfeaa6953f1d9 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O presente trabalho teve por objetivos avaliar a inter-relação entre a suplementação alimentar com 0,3% de parede celular de levedura e vacinação com extrato oleoso de Streptococcus agalactiae sobre o desempenho produtivo, parâmetros fisiopatológicos e componente celular inflamatório em tilápia do Nilo. Oitenta e quatro tilápia com peso médio inicial de 125,0 + 1,5g foram distribuídas em 12 caixas de fibra, seguindo o esquema fatorial 2x2x3, correspondente a dois níveis de parede celular de levedura (0,0 e 0,3% parede celular), dois tratamentos (solução salina e vacina) e três coletas após o desafio com a bactéria viva (seis, 24 e 48h) com sete repetições. Os peixes foram alimentados durante 77 dias. A vacinação foi realizada 60 dias após o início da alimentação, por meio da inoculação intraperitoneal de 0,5 mL da vacina contendo 108 UFC/mL. Após 15 dias da vacinação, todos os peixes foram submetidos ao desafio com Streptococcus agalactiae vivo, por meio da inoculação intraperitoneal de 108 UFC/mL, veiculadas em 0,5 mL de solução salina (0,85%). As análises do desempenho produtivo mostraram que a suplementação dietética com parede celular de levedura associada à vacinação não influenciou o desempenho produtivo da tilápia do Nilo e o melhor desempenho ocorreu na utilização da parede celular de levedura. Os parâmetros hematológicos mostraram que a suplementação com 0,3% de parede celular de levedura associada à vacinação contra Streptococcus agalactiae em tilápia do Nilo foi essencial para incrementar a hematopoiese. A suplementação alimentar com 0,3% de parede celular de levedura associada à vacinação melhorou a resposta de defesa dos peixes, no que se refere à inflamação aguda e destaca a importância da vacinação. / The work evaluates the interrelation between supplementation diets with 0,3% of cellular wall of yeast and vaccination with oily extract of Streptococcus agalactiae in the growth performance, phisiopathological parameters and inflamatory cellular component of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Eighty four tilapia with initial average weight of 125,0 ± 1,5g were distributed in 12 fiber aquaria, following the factorial design 2x2x3, corresponding to two levels of cellular wall of yeast (0,0 and 0,3% cellular wall), two treatments (saline solution and vaccine) and three collections, after challenge with bacteria (six, 24 and 48h) with seven repetitions. Fish were fed during 77 days. The vaccination was accomplished 60 days after the beginning of the feeding, through inoculation intraperitoneal of 0,5 mL of the vaccine containing 108 UFC/mL. After 15 days of the vaccination, all fishes were challenged with Streptococcus agalactiae, through inoculation intraperitoneal of 108 UFC/ml, diluted in 0,5 mL of saline solution (0,85%). The analyses of the pattern performance showed that supplementation diets with cellular wall of yeast associated to vaccination did not influence the growth performance of Nile tilapia and the best growth performance was obtained using cellular wall of yeast. The phisiopathological parameters showed supplementation diets with 0,3% of cellular wall of yeast associated to the vaccination against Streptococcus agalactiae in Nile tilapia were essential to increase the hematopoiesis. The supplementation diets with 0,3% of cellular wall of yeast associated to the vaccination improved the immune response of fish, in relation to the sharp inflammation and it detaches the importance of the vaccination.

Orientador: Tereza Cristina Cardoso Silva / Banca: Roberto Gameiro de Carvalho / Banca: Andréa Fontes Garcia / Resumo: O Vírus da Bronquite Infecciosa, assim como outras doenças infecciosas, é um dos principais limitantes à produção de frango de corte. O coronavírus responsável por causar essa doença influencia na perda de desempenho das aves acometidas prejudicando o perfil financeiro do setor. Considerando o Brasil hoje, o segundo maior exportador mundial de carne de frango e esse coronavírus altamente contagioso por suas perdas em níveis financeiro e industrias, este trabalho objetivou avaliar a presença do vírus em uma região do noroeste paulista sem vacinação compulsória. Para investigar a presença de anticorpos contra o mesmo, foram coletados de 100 aviários 10 soros de cada, os animais eram alojados de forma aleatória em 2 regiões que formam um ângulo de 360º com a unidade de abate integradora parceira deste trabalho. Por fim, as amostras foram mensuradas através do teste de ELISA® indireto, que abordou o método estatístico X 2 . Os resultados indicaram que há circulação do vírus p<0.1, demonstrando uma necessidade em se adotar um novo protocolo de vacinação para a região. / Abstract: - Infectious Bronchitis Virus is one of the main limiting factors for the production of broiler chickens, and is still responsible for the loss of performance of these birds and even motivating high mortality rates. Considering Brazil today, the second largest exporter of poultry in the world and this highly contagious coronavirus, due to its losses to the financier of the industries, this work aimed to evaluate the presence of the virus in a region of the northwest of São Paulo without compulsory vaccination. Thus, to investigate the presence of antibodies against it, 10 sera of each 100 birds were randomly housed in 2 regions that form a 360 degree angle with the integrating slaughter unit partner of this work. Finally, the samples were measured through the indirect ELISA, which approached the chi - square statistical method. The results indicated that there is circulation of the virus p <0.1, demonstrating a need to adopt a new vaccination protocol for the region / Mestre