From: Public health impact of strain specific immunity to Borrelia burgdorferi
Model | Key assumptionsa | Benefits | Limitations |
---|---|---|---|
Deterministic probability | Lyme disease patients’ probability of exposure to infectious bite similar to general population. | Extremely simple and flexible. Allows a separate analysis focusing on infections caused by invasive strains of B. burgdorferi. | May over estimate the impact of immunity on averted cases. |
Immunity is permanent. | |||
Provides the upper limit of averted cases. | |||
Equilibrium dynamic | Lyme disease patients’ probability of exposure to infectious bite similar to general population. | Simple. | May under estimate the impact of immunity on averted cases. |
Provides the lower limit of averted cases. | |||
Immunity lasts 5 to 30 years. | |||
Lyme disease patients are at risk for tick bites for 30 years. | |||
Individual-based stochastic | Lyme disease patients’ probability of exposure to infectious bite higher than in general population. | Most complex, allows manipulation of many parameters. | Simulations are time-demanding. |
May provide the most realistic estimate of the number of averted cases. | |||
Immunity lasts 5 to 30 years. | |||
Patients are at risk for tick bites for 30 years. |