Hopf bifurcation and optimal control of HCV/HIV co-infection dynamics within human: A theoretical study

Abstract

Pathogen and human host interaction dynamics are often more complicated in the presence of co-pathogens. Co-infection can occur either as the presence of pre-existing pathogen which is accelerated by the new pathogen and more complications happened. In this study, we look at the burden of HIV/HCV viremia and the efficacy of treatment in reducing the severity of HIV/HCV co-infection patterns. Disease-free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium are two equilibrium states determined in the absence of drugs. The basic reproduction number is computed and the stability of the disease-free equilibrium of the model is analyzed using it. Here we have also incorporated the optimal drug therapy to control the co-infection disease progression. The efficacy of treatment has also been found to influence the natural progression of HCV in HIV/HCV co-infection. The numerical results suggest that the HIV viral load impacts the severity of the HCV infection impressively. This research is significant to develop antiviral therapy strategies to control HIV/HCV co-infection. The most effective way to control the co-infection with the minimum side effects is to take the combination of three medications with optimal dosing.

Keywords

• HIV/HCV co-infection
• Hepatocyte cells
• Proliferation
• Basic reproduction number
• Optimal control