Development of a Model for Simulium damnosum S.L. Recolonization Dynamics at a Breeding Site in the Onchocerciasis Control Programme Area When Control is Interrupted

1983 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 507 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Birley ◽  
J. F. Walsh ◽  
J. B. Davies

Regular aerial treatment of 14000 km of watercourses has achieved and maintained, over an area of 700000 km 2 of West African savannah, a very high degree of control of the larvae of Simulium damnosum sensu stricto and S. sibanum , the vectors of onchocerciasis in this area. However, particular and relatively restricted parts of this area, mainly in northern Ivory Coast and neighbouring parts of Upper Volta, experience regular and prolonged reinvasions by parous female vectors, which have already taken bloodmeals (and many of them carrying the parasites) and arrive from unknown sources probably hundreds of kilometres away, from directions probably between southwest and north. This reinvasion, now experienced in three successive years, represents the outstanding scientific, epidemiological and logistic problem still facing the WHO Onchocerciasis Control Programme. An outline is presented of the multidisciplinary investigations being undertaken to find a solution.


1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.G. Johnson ◽  
R.P.C. Johnson

AbstractThe number of wind-borne female Simulium damnosum Theobald sensu lato migrating across territory devoid of breeding populations (the Onchocerciasis Control Programme, OCP) were monitored daily at widely separated sites downwind. The seasonal curves of numbers recorded each day were remarkably similar in pattern at each site with little blurring (although numbers lessened as distance from source increased). The uniformity suggests that each daily batch of S. damnosum moved downwind en bloc with but a small proportion of laggards. To test this hypothesis, model curves were generated, with different proportions of daily laggards, from the data at each sampling site and compared by chi-squared tests with the observed curve at the next site downwind. It was found that, in general, those models that most closely resembled the downwind curves were those with the smallest proportion of laggards. Other aspects of the migration were also considered, notably the factors affecting loss of numbers as distance increased and the interaction between laggards and loss where it was shown that the greater the proportion of laggards the greater will be the daily loss.


1985 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. G. Johnson ◽  
J. F. Walsh ◽  
J. B. Davies ◽  
S. J. Clark ◽  
J. N. Perry

AbstractBreeding of Simulium damnosum Theobald s.1., the vector of Onchocerca volvulus, had been eliminated by 1977 from about 654 000 km2 of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in the Volta River Basin Area (OCP) of West Africa. Nevertheless, migrating adult females continually invaded the controlled area, being blown on the prevailing south-westerly winds from uncontrolled breeding sites beyond the south-western border of the OCP area. Graphs of numbers of females caught per man per day (the daily biting rate) throughout the wet season, March to October, at 16 sites in 1977 within the OCP controlled area were remarkably similar in pattern from site to site over a range of about 500 km downwind. In 1978, only seven sites within the OCP area were similarly monitored, and the graphs were different in pattern from those in 1977, when they each consisted of three or four well-defined waves or cycles of daily biting rate which could be easily identified and traced across country, their times of occurrence lagging increasingly as the distance of the site from the south-western border of the OCP area increased. Four methods were used to demonstrate and estimate the lag: visual comparison of seasonal graphs; comparison of the mean dates of cycles at different sites and the regression of these dates on distance from the south-western border; the dates when particular cumulative percentages of the total season's catch occurred at each site and their regression on distance; and principal coordinate analysis of the data and its relation to distance from the south-western border. Statistically significant lags were demonstrated and averaged one day for every 10–30 km from the border in 1977, which indicated an average speed of migration across country. In 1978, a rate of one day per 7–35 km was indicated. Where some graphs at outlying sites were anomalous, possible alternative sources of immigrant flies are considered. The possible behaviour of flies in causing the lag is discussed.


The history of onchocerciasis control in Africa and the genesis of the WHO Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP) are briefly reviewed. The importance of experience gained in anti-locust campaigns in helping to plan the OCP is stressed. Members of the Simulium damnosum species complex are the vectors of onchocerciasis, which OCP is controlling with insecticide treatments on the stretches of rivers where the Simulium breed. Migrations of flies have been responsible for reinfestations of controlled areas and the spread of insecticide resistance. The management of these problems and related research are described, but it is emphasized that despite setbacks OCP is achieving its aims. A strategy for the future is outlined: vector control supplemented by chemotherapy is expected to continue until the year 2004.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1329
Author(s):  
Stephen Raimon ◽  
Tom L. Lakwo ◽  
Wilson John Sebit ◽  
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo ◽  
Peter Alinda ◽  
...  

Background: High ongoing Onchocerca volvulus transmission was recently documented in Maridi County, South Sudan. To complement community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) as the main onchocerciasis control strategy, we initiated a community-based vector control method “slash and clear” at the Maridi dam, a Simulium damnosum s.l. breeding site, to reduce O. volvulus transmission. Methods: Simulium damnosum s.l. biting rates were collected before and during the twenty months following the “slash and clear” intervention using the human landing catches. Black flies were dissected to measure parity rates before and twelve months after the intervention. Larvae and pupae of S. damnosum s.l. were collected from the dam for morphological and chromosomal characterization to identify the cytospecies involved. Results: Biting rates of S. damnosum s.l. close to the Maridi dam spillway decreased by >90% post-“slash and clear” for more than six months. Twelve months after the “slash and clear” intervention, the reduction in biting rates was still at <50% (p = 0.0007). Parity rates reduced from 13% pre-“slash and clear” (November 2019) to 5.6% post-“slash and clear” (November 2020). Larvae collected from the dam were identified as Simulium sirbanum. Conclusion: The “slash and clear” method was found to be an effective and cheap community-based method to reduce black fly biting rates caused by S. sirbanum. When repeated at least annually together with a high CDTI coverage, this intervention has the potential to considerably accelerate onchocerciasis elimination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nana-Kwadwo Biritwum ◽  
Dziedzom K. de Souza ◽  
Odame Asiedu ◽  
Benjamin Marfo ◽  
Uche Veronica Amazigo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The control of onchocerciasis in Ghana started in 1974 under the auspices of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP). Between 1974 and 2002, a combination of approaches including vector control, mobile community ivermectin treatment, and community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) were employed. From 1997, CDTI became the main control strategy employed by the Ghana OCP (GOCP). This review was undertaken to assess the impact of the control interventions on onchocerciasis in Ghana between 1974 and 2016, since which time the focus has changed from control to elimination. Methods In this paper, we review programme data from 1974 to 2016 to assess the impact of control activities on prevalence indicators of onchocerciasis. This review includes an evaluation of CDTI implementation, microfilaria (Mf) prevalence assessments and rapid epidemiological mapping of onchocerciasis results. Results This review indicates that the control of onchocerciasis in Ghana has been very successful, with a significant decrease in the prevalence of infection from 69.13% [95% confidence interval) CI 60.24–78.01] in 1975 to 0.72% (95% CI 0.19–1.26) in 2015. Similarly, the mean community Mf load decreased from 14.48 MF/skin snip in 1975 to 0.07 MF/skin snip (95% CI 0.00–0.19) in 2015. Between 1997 and 2016, the therapeutic coverage increased from 58.50 to 83.80%, with nearly 100 million ivermectin tablets distributed. Conclusions Despite the significant reduction in the prevalence of onchocerciasis in Ghana, there are still communities with MF prevalence above 1%. As the focus of the GOCP has changed from the control of onchocerciasis to its elimination, both guidance and financial support are required to ensure that the latter goal is met.


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