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Heterogeneities in transmission rates and the epidemiology of schistosome infection

Previous theoretical studies have suggested that heterogeneities in transmission rates can have significant effects on the epidemiology of parasite infections. However, the magnitude of these effects in practice remains uncertain because of the difficulty of quantifying such heterogeneities under natural conditions. In this paper we consider the effects of heterogeneous rates of contact with infective water bodies on the basic reproductive rate, R0, of human schistosomes. In particular, we examine the theoretical effects of differences in the distribution of contacts among individuals and among sites. We find that an individual’s contribution to R0 depends not only on the net contact rate but also on how these contacts are distributed among sites - the contact pattern. Our analysis of field data suggests a substantial impact of heterogeneous contact rates on R0 in practice. Significant reductions in R0 may be possible if schistosomiasis control efforts are targeted at certain sites and, especially, certain individuals.