Analysis of a malaria model with mosquito host choice and bed-net control

A malaria model is formulated which includes the enhanced attractiveness of 7 infectious humans to mosquitoes, as result of host manipulation by malaria 8 parasite, and the human behavior, represented by insecticide-treated bed nets 9 usage. The occurrence of a backward bifurcation at R0 = 1 is shown to be 10 possible, which implies that multiple endemic equilibria co-exist with a stable 11 disease-free equilibrium when the basic reproduction number is less than unity. 12 This phenomenon is found to be caused by disease–induced human mortality. 13 The global asymptotic stability of the endemic equilibrium for R0 > 1 is proved, 14 by using the geometric approach to global stability. Therefore, the disease 15 becomes endemic for R0 > 1 regardless of the number of initial cases in both the 16 human and vector populations. Finally, the impact of vector’s host preferences 17 and bed–net usage behavior on system dynamics is investigated. 18 Subject class: 92D30, 34C23, 34D23 19