Numerical assessment of the impact of hemozoin on the dynamics of a within-host malaria model

Phagocytosis of infected red blood cells by macrophages can lead to the elimination of malaria parasites. However, the phagocytic function of macrophages can be diminished when they ingest the malarial pigment called hemozoin. In this study, we consider an in-host malaria model which assesses the impact of the ingestion or uptake of hemozoin by macrophages on the dynamics of malaria in a human host. It is shown that the model undergoes the backward bifurcation phenomenon. This phenomenon is induced by the suppression or inhibition of the phagocytic function of macrophages resulting from their interaction with hemozoin. More so, it is shown numerically that the model can undergo a Hopf bifurcation with periodic solutions appearing in all compartments of the model when the suppression rate of the phagocytic function of macrophages by hemozoin is sufficiently small.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of macrophages' uptake of hemozoin on the dynamics of malaria within a human host. The results reveal a backward bifurcation phenomenon induced by the suppression of macrophages' phagocytic function due to their interaction with hemozoin. Moreover, numerical simulations demonstrate that the model can undergo a Hopf bifurcation with periodic solutions appearing in all compartments when the suppression rate is sufficiently small.