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Table 2 Examples of distributions describing heterogeneity in exposure in order of increasing heterogeneity.

From: Heterogeneity in malaria exposure and vaccine response: implications for the interpretation of vaccine efficacy trials

Distribution

Description

constant

All individuals receive the same number of infectious mosquito bites.

80/20

The distribution of infectious bites follows an 80/20 rule as suggested by Woolhouse et al [28]where 20% of people receive 80% of the bites.

gamma

The distribution of infectious mosquito bites follows a gamma distribution with parameter 1/4.2 as suggested by Smith et al [19].

extreme

A hypothetical example of extreme heterogeneity as might be observed in a localised epidemic, in this case modelled as 5% of people receiving 95% of infectious bites.