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Table 1 Summary of feature comparisons from several malaria models, including new features modelled by this study

From: Examining the impact of larval source management and insecticide-treated nets using a spatial agent-based model of Anopheles gambiae and a landscape generator tool

Model feature

Malaria models

 

Gu & Novak[10, 11]

Yakob & Yan[2]

Eckhoff[12]

Chitnis et al.[8]

This study

Model type

agent-based

mathematical

individual-based

mathematical

agent-based

Spatial representation

landscape-based

N/A

space can be represented as a lattice of points

N/A

landscape-based

Automation of landscape generation (e.g., using separate tools) *

no

N/A

no

N/A

yes (VectorLand)

Boundary type of landscape *

absorbing

N/A

N/A

N/A

non-absorbing

Average of multiple simulations *

no

no

no

no

yes

Time-step resolution

daily

daily

hourly

daily

hourly

Age-specific mortality

no

no

N/A

no

yes (see [19, 21])

Daily mortality rate (immature stages)

fixed, 0.2

fixed, 0.15

temperature-dependent

N/A

age-specific (for larvae)

Daily mortality rate (adult stages)

fixed, 0.2

fixed, 0.15

adult life expectancy of 10 days

N/A

age-specific

Fecundity (eggs/oviposition)

fixed, 80

N/A

fixed, 100

N/A

N (170, 30)

Variability in daily temperature

no

no

yes

yes

yes (25°C)

Length of individual simulation run

200 days for LSM, 300 days for ITNs

N/A

> 6 years

N/A

1 year

Interventions modelled

LSM, ITNs

LSM, ITNs

IRS, ITNs, larvicides, space spraying

ITNs, IRS

LSM, ITNs

Time-step of intervention application

day 100 for LSM, day 150 for ITNs

N/A

N/A

N/A

day 100

Explores combined interventions

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

Variability in human population

no

yes

no

yes

yes

Coverage scheme used for ITNs *

proportion of house-holds with bed nets

proportion of populations sleeping under bed nets

proportion of populations sleeping under bed nets

proportion of populations sleeping under bed nets

partial and complete coverage (see Methods)

Comparison of coverage schemes for ITNs *

no

no

no

no

yes

  1. Each row represents a specific model feature. Each column represents a specific malaria model. Features marked with * are either modelled with extensions, or may be treated as new (not modelled earlier by other studies). Text in the cells represent whether the feature is implemented/available in the model, including simple yes/no, or other comments. N/A means not applicable or not available. Time-step resolution indicates the most fine-grained time resolution (for example, models reported as hourly are also capable of reporting events on a daily basis). For some features, whether the model implements variability of the feature is stated (e.g., variability in daily temperature), and the default value used in the model is noted in parentheses. For fecundity, N indicates a normal distribution with mean and standard deviation. Daily mortality and age-dependent mortality refer to mortality of mosquitoes.
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Malaria Journal

ISSN: 1475-2875

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