Modeling the Influence of Desert Aerosols on the Transmission Dynamics of Neisseria Meningitidis Serogroup A.

This paper assesses the role of desert aerosols and vaccine on the transmission dynamics of Neisseria Meningitis serogroup A (NmA). It is biologically well-documented that the inhalation of aerosol dust and its presence in the nasal cavity weakens the nasopharyngeal mucosa by damaging the mucosal barrier and inhibiting the mucosal immune defenses of susceptible and vaccinated individuals. We address the latter by proposing and analyzing a mathematical model for the dynamics of NmA that specifically accounts for the fast progression of susceptible and vaccinated individuals to the invasive stage of the disease. We compute the basic reproduction number and use it to investigate the existence and stability of equilibria. In this regard, we prove that the model undergoes a backward bifurcation phenomenon. We highlight the detrimental impact of aerosol dust by showing that its inhalation augments the reproduction number and enhances the endemic level of NmA.We also highlight the favorable role of vaccine in eliminating the disease when it has a high level of efficacy and is used to protect a large proportion of the population. The theoretical results are supported and illustrated by numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]