Vectorial Capacity

Scaled individual vectorial capacity was defined as expected infectious biting days for a mosquito infected one day after adult emergence. Under constant mortality, scaled individual vectorial capacity increases monotonically with lifespan. Under Gompertz mortality, vectorial capacity depends on both initial mortality and age-related mortality increase. The vectorial-capacity analysis held biting rate, infection probability, and mosquito density constant to focus on mortality. Constant mortality assumptions can overestimate transmission risk and intervention sensitivity, especially for long extrinsic incubation periods.