MATH Seminar

Title: Spatial Optimization of 4-Poster Feeders for Tick-Borne Disease Management
Defense: Honors Thesis
Speaker: James Nance of Emory University
Contact: James Nagy, nagy@mathcs.emory.edu
Date: 2011-04-06 at 4:00PM
Venue: W306
Download Flyer
Abstract: Amblyomma americanum, the Lone Star tick, is the predominant tick species throughout the southeast United States. Its significance as a threat to human health was not realized until recently. Recognized as an important disease vector, Amblyomma carry a serious bacteria, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, that causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis. In 1995, eleven cases of ehrlichiosis due to E. chaffeensis were identied in Faireld Glade, a retirement golf community near Crossivlle, Tennessee. The placement of "4-poster" acaricide feeders has been demonstrated to be a highly effective control method for eliminating Amblyomma populations. Here we formulate an economic criterion to evaluate various feeder placement scenarios within Faireld Glade that that minimize infected ticks and that tend toward future projects in optimization of this system.