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Dissertation
Dose-response models of rickettsiae and other biological agents of concern
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Apr 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3493
Abstract
A dose-response relationship describes the relationship between the level of microbial exposure (doses) and likelihood of occurrence of an adverse health effects. It is a key ingredient of microbial risk assessment paradigm. Dose-response modeling now appears to be widely used for food and water microbial risk assessments. The thesis focuses on development of dose-response models of Rickettsiae and some other pathogens listed as bioterrorism agents by CDC. Rickettsial diseases are a group of infections to humans caused by rickettsiae. The rickettsiae are small, Gram-negative, aerobic, coccobacillary bacteria that are obligate intracellular parasites of eucaryotic cells with a life cycle involving both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Among several rickettsial diseases, Rocky Mountain spotted fever caused by R. rickettsii and endemic typhus caused by R. typhi are diseases of concern in the thesis. Besides classical dose-response models of rickettsial diseases, development of multi-routes dose-response models, interspecies susceptibilities and outbreak analysis of rickettsial diseases have been analyzed and presented in the study. Moreover, the study also includes dose-response models of Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), Burkholderia pseudomallei (Melioidosis) and Lassa virus fever. The development and analysis of dose-response models will help to the concern authorities and decision makers to cope emergency situation and formulating guidelines such as minimum detection limits, evacuation volume etc.
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Details
- Title
- Dose-response models of rickettsiae and other biological agents of concern
- Creators
- Sushil Bahadur Tamrakar - DU
- Contributors
- Charles Nathan Haas (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil (and Architectural) Engineering [Historical]; College of Engineering (1970-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 3493; 991014631954804721