Onchocerciasis in Benue State of Nigeria. A laboratory study of the development of Onchocerca volvulus in wild Simulium damnosum experimentally fed on an infected volunteer.
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Adult↗
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Onchocerciasis in Benue State of Nigeria III: a study of bionomics of Simulium damnosum (Theobald) complex at Manor.
Results of a 12-month study (January-December 1981) on the breeding sites, incidence and infection rates of Simulium damnosum in an area of Benue State of Nigeria endemic for human onchocerciasis are given. Natural and artificial breeding sites are described. Permanent and temporary breeding sites were recognized along the rivers in the study area and the intensity of rains was found to be the only factor which determined the permanency or temporary nature of a breeding site. All adult blackflies caught were S. damnosum "sensu lato" Greater numbers were caught during the rains with peak catches corresponding with peak of rainfall in September. The influence of shade temperature on daily biting activity was shown, peak activity being recorded at periods of day when temperature was low. Population density of blackflies increased with increasing distance from the main breeding sites on the river during the normal rains; at the peak of rains, the reverse was observed. April and September were the months of highest and lowest infection rates respectively among the catches while April to July were the most favourable period for onchocerciasis transmission because of the high infective bites per person per day in those months. The infective bites per person per day were estimated at 0.83 which, by comparison with values from endemic areas of Africa, confirmed the endemicity of the study area for human onchocerciasis. Dissected flies carried low number of developing larvae of Onchocerca volvulus with a mean of 3.9. Measurements of larvae are given and the relevance of the results to the epidemiology of human onchocerciasis in the study area is discussed.
Animals↗
A mosquito-virulent Bacillus sphaericus in adult Simulium damnosum from northern Nigeria.
From newly emerged adult Simulium damnosum from Kaduna River, Northern Nigeria, a mosquito-virulent strain of Bacillus sphaericus was isolated. In another four cases non-virulent B. sphaericus were present. The isolate exerted a LC50 of 50 spores/ml for Culex pipiens L4-larvae and was less virulent for Anopheles stephensi (400 sp/ml) and Aedes aegypti (800 sp/ml).
Aedes↗
[Note on Simulium of Tassili n'Ajjer].
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Algeria↗
Onchocerciasis and its control. Report of a WHO Expert Committee on Onchocerciasis Control.
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Africa↗
The in vitro culture of Onchocerca spp.: II. The excretory/secretory products of the first and third stage larvae of Onchocerca lienalis and O. ochengi.
The developing first and third larval stages of two bovine Onchocerca species were maintained in vitro in the presence of 35S-methionine, following their initial development in the vector species Simulium ornatum s.1. to characterise the expression and secretion of their metabolites. The first larval stages of O. lienalis and O. ochengi did not release any E/S products. In contrast the supernatants of the third stage larvae of both species contained a double band of 21 and 20 kDa for O. ochengi and 23 and 22 kDa bands for O. lienalis when kept at room temperature. A temperature shift to 37 degrees C led to the increased expression of the 23 kDa protein with the infective larvae of O. lienalis. The possible role of these molecules is discussed.
Animals↗
Impact of combined large-scale ivermectin distribution and vector control on transmission of Onchocerca volvulus in the Niger basin, Guinea.
As part of the WHO Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP), the attack phase of operations in the Niger basin in Guinea began in 1989 with the simultaneous use of ivermectin and vector control. Larvicide applications coupled with annual large-scale ivermectin distribution have greatly reduced blackfly infectivity (by 78.8% for the number of infective larvae per 1000 parous flies). The combination of vector control and ivermectin has permitted excellent control of transmission. In the original OCP area, it took 6-8 years of vector control alone to obtain an equivalent decrease in blackfly infectivity. For the same number of flies caught, transmission was much higher in areas where ivermectin had not been distributed. The combined use of ivermectin and vector control has opened up new prospects for carrying out OCP operations with, notably, the possibility of reducing larviciding operations.
Animals↗
[Which fly has bitten? Apropos of skin lesions induced by Simulium].
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Animals↗
Effect of semiannual treatments of ivermectin on the prevalence and intensity of Onchocerca volvulus skin infection, ocular lesions, and infectivity of Simulium ochraceum populations in southern Mexico.
The effect of semiannual ivermectin treatment along with nodulectomy on filarial transmission levels were estimated during the three dry seasons of 1991-1993 in a hyperendemic village in southern Mexico. Parasitologic and ophthalmologic examinations were carried out every six months until five drug treatments were completed. Ivermectin mass treatment with a coverage of approximately 80% had a significant impact (P < 0.05) on the prevalence of skin infection and the mean microfilarial skin density (CMFL), which were reduced 38% and 89%, respectively. A gradual and significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the mean microfilariae number in the anterior chamber of the eye and in corneal opacities was also observed as the CMFL was reduced. After three treatments, these were reduced 84% and 69%, respectively. However, after two years of continuous intervention, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in either the daily mean infective biting density and the daily mean transmission potential. This was probably due to the remaining microfilarial load provided by the untreated resident population and migrant groups. On the whole, our results confirm both the efficacy of ivermectin to alleviate the clinical manifestations of the disease and its minimal impact on Onchocerca volvulus transmission, and indicate the need both to achieve higher levels of drug coverage and to incorporate other measures to stop transmission until a macrofilaricide drug is found.
Adolescent↗
[Control of onchocerciasis vectors in West Africa: description of the logistics adapted for a large-scale public health program].
The Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) in West Africa, launched in 1974, includes 11 participating countries and covers more than one million square kilometres. The aim of the OCP is to control blinding onchocerciasis (river blindness) which is caused by the savannah strain of Onchocerca volvulus transmitted by the Simulium damnosum complex. There is no effective macrofilaricide, so vector control to prevent the transmission of the parasite remains the method of choice, despite the availability of ivermectin, a drug which controls ocular morbidity. The potential value of vector control has been demonstrated by the original programme: 14 years activity has eliminated the disease as a public health problem in the areas included. This strategy requires adapted logistical support involving (i) widespread insecticide coverage (27,000 km of river are treated by the OCP during the rainy season), (ii) frequent (weekly) application of larvicide and (iii) prolonged intervention due to the life-span of the worm in the human reservoir, estimated to be approximately 14 years. We describe the vector control operations and their organisation 20 years after the initiation of the OCP. The OCP can be divided into 5 areas of logistic activity. The first covers activities involving insecticide and fuel management for the OCP as a whole: assessment of the requirements for the following year, ordering from insecticide and petrol suppliers, stocking fuel and insecticide at the depots covering the area. The second activity is the treatment of rivers with insecticide. This includes treating the ground with larvicide, the aerial operations run by an independent company supplying 12 helicopters on contract to the OCP, and use of satellite beacons for retransmitting of hydrological data. The third activity is monitoring the impact of larvicides on both the target (adult and larval S. damnosum) and on other fauna (fish, crustaceans and other insects). The fourth activity is field data collection and its processing. This involves a data transmission network to facilitate stock management insecticide application and entomological and hydrological surveillance using computer systems. The fifth activity is the coordination of vector control operations, technical and administrative staff and estimations of the funds available to the Vector Control Unit. The logistic aspects of other large-scale-insect-control programmes world-wide are considered, and the possibility of using the OCP as a model for such programmes (both public health and agricultural) is assessed.
Africa, Western↗
[Vectorial fauna at the site of the future dam at Memve'ele(Cameroon)].
The present study was designed to assess the health risk of the future hydroelectric dam of Memve'ele with reference to vector-borne diseases. Entomological and malacological surveys were carried out in the project area. The main vectors collected were Anopheles gambiae and An. nili for malaria; Simulium damnosum for onchocerciasis; Glossina palpalis for trypanosomiasis; Chrysops dimidiata and C. silacea for loasis. No snail host of schistosome was reported. The risk of introduction of the diseases they transmit are discussed.
Animals↗
[Importance and role of spreading larvicides on the soil in river beds for the control program against onchocerciasis in west Africa].
The control of blackfly is based on larvicide spraying in rivers where the insects breed and their larval stages are vulnerable. The first technique for large-scale operations, consists of using aircraft in the same way as for mosquito control and crop protection operations. The second technique, which will be discussed in this paper, consists of ground treatment of rivers, either directly with a container or with a spraying pump or by boat spraying insecticide in cross strip. In areas of West Africa where onchocerciasis is still prevalent, ground treatment is done to support aerial operations and to a lesser extent to control nuisance in areas where the endemicity of the disease is low. In onchocerciasis-freed zones, control of blackfly aims only at suppressing the nuisance in order to enhance the socio-economic development in areas at unfair disadvantage. This distinction is important for determining the responsibilities of various groups. Vector control to interrupt the transmission of onchocerciasis is the mandate of OCP while the control of nuisance is the responsibility, depending on the circumstances, of the private sector, the government and/or village communities. In this paper, we have attempted to highlight the objectives of such treatments, the responsibilities of various groups and the prospects in West African countries located in the Onchocerciasis Control Programme area. We also present the situation of ground larviciding in countries outside the Programme, in temperate as well as tropical conditions, in order to provide some basis for the development of ground treatment strategies in the OCP area.
Africa, Western↗
Modulation of murine cellular immune responses and cytokines by salivary gland extract of the black fly Simulium vittatum.
Salivary gland extract (SGE) of the blood-feeding black fly Simulium vittatum is known to modulate immunological responses. In the present study, the ability of S. vittatum SGE to modulate responses during heterologous antigenic challenge was investigated in a murine model, with particular emphasis on characterizing the patterns of cytokine response. Mice were injected repeatedly with SGE or saline (sham), then challenged with the T dependent antigen ovalbumin (OVA) to generate antigen-specific lymphoblasts. Spleen cells from OVA-primed mice were then co-cultured with OVA in vitro to stimulate cytokine secretion. Cells from mice that had been injected with SGE prior to OVA challenge produced lower levels of interleukins 5 and 10 (IL-5 and IL-10) in in vitro culture, when stimulated with OVA, compared to mice that had been sham-injected with saline. Levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-4 did not differ significantly between SGE- and saline-injected groups. Mice injected repeatedly with SGE prior to OVA challenge had fewer circulating eosinophils than sham-injected mice, while other leukocyte levels were unaffected by SGE. Prior exposure to SGE did not affect levels of serum IgE or IgA significantly. The effect of SGE on the ability of murine spleen cells to respond in vitro to the recombinant cytokines IL-2 and IL-4 was also investigated. Naive spleen cells pre-incubated with SGE proliferated less in response to both IL-2 and IL-4 in in vitro culture than cells pre-incubated with saline as a control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Animals↗
Cytotaxonomy of the Simulium damnosum complex and description of new cytotypes in the Tukuyu focus, southwest Tanzania.
Larvae of Simulium damnosum complex collected from rivers draining Tukuyu onchocerciasis focus were chromosomally examined. Of the 970 larvae analysed, 910 were identified as Kiwira form, a newly described cytotype found in all S. damnosum larval habitats in the Tukuyu area, while 51 were classified as a new subpopulation, tentatively named as Kasyabone form. The F1 larval progeny obtained from wild caught human biting S. damnosum and reared in the laboratory were chromosomally examined. 509 F1 larvae from 70 females blood fed on human volunteers were identified as Kiwira form. As the main human-biting member of the complex in the Tukuyu area, and because some of the wild caught females had developing filarial larvae indistinguishable from those of Onchocerca volvulus, Kiwira form is thus incriminated as the local vector of onchocerciasis. These observations are discussed with respect to previous literature.
Animals↗
Identification of the larvae of the Simulium damnosum complex from Nigeria by analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons.
The larvae of three sibling species of the Simulium damnosum complex were studied with a view to identification, using a Gas Liquid Chromatograph to analyze the hydrocarbons in the cuticular wax extracts. Multivariate statistics were applied to the chromatographic data to differentiate three sibling species: S. damnosum s.s., S. squamosum and S. yahense. Paired comparisons between the species gave greater than 96% correct classifications in all cases.
Animals↗
[The effect of ivermectin on the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus in southern Mexico].
We assessed the transmission potential and the mean infected and infective biting density of S. ochraceum in an onchocerciasis endemic community in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. In addition, the impact of first treatment of ivermectin during the peak of natural infection of host-seeking S. ochraceum populations was also evaluated. Monthly entomological sampling was carried out during the year before treatment to assess the seasonal biting behavior of parous host-seeking S. ochraceum females, and either infected (with whatever stage of O. volvulus) or infective females (with only third larval stage of O. volvulus). The mean of infective biting density was unimodal with the peak in February. Higher densities of infective females were detected from January to March. Annual infective biting density estimated was 95.2 and the annual transmission potential of 152.3. After treatment with ivermectin, entomological collections were carried out during the December-April period. In these months, the first ivermectin mass treatment produced a reduction of natural infection rates of 55 per cent in the mean infected females density (p < 0.001) and of 30 per cent in the transmission potential. However, significative differences were found in parity rates of biting females during the evaluation periods. Decrease of infection rates in vector populations was caused by immediate effect of ivermectin over the skin microfilariae. Microfilariae community load available for transmission declined significantly from 14 Dmg/mg to 5.9 Dmf/mg. These means were statistically different (p < 0.001) and were reduced by 58 per cent from the baseline value.
Animals↗
[ Onchocerciasis control program in West Africa: socioeconomic development and risk of recrudescence of transmission. 1. Experimental study of the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus strains from Southwestern Sierra Leone by Simulium sirbanum].
As part of the return of savanna migrants installed since a long time in forest regions, in the south of Sierra Leone, we carried out an experimental study about a cross-transmission between Simulium sirbanum from Missira (West-Mali) and the forest strain of Onchocerca volvulus in the south-west of Sierra Leone. This study will allow to know if there is a risk of onchocerciasis transmission recrudescence in relation to the reinstallation of these migrants in their native region. Because of the very high limitation to the forest strain of O. volvulus microfilariae output of the peritrophic membrane reduction with savanna black-flies and according to the very low mature parasite out put of S. sirbanum with this strain observed along this experimentation, the forest strain of O. volvulus from the south Sierra Leone appears maladjusted to S. sirbanum, the main vector of onchocerciasis in savanna regions. This observation implicates a very low intensity of transmission for this forest strain by savanna onchocerciasis vectors. The return of savanna migrants in their native region, installed in the south Sierra Leone since several decades, could not be, in a short time, an origin of onchocerciasis recrudescence in savanna regions of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme area cleaned by an effective vector control carried out since 1975 sustained now by a chemotherapeutic treatment reducing the human parasite reservoir. However, the preservation of this acquired necessitates an epidemiological supervision increased, because the interactions between the vector and the parasite for a long time could carry away a mutual adaptation and a sickness recrudescence.
Animals↗
[Onchocerciasis control program in West Africa: socioeconomic development and risk of recrudescence of transmission. 2. Experimental study of the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus strains from Southwestern Sierra Leone by Simulium yahense and Simulium squamosum].
The movements of human populations towards the mining wealth of the northern parts of Sierra Leone are favorable to a high contact rate between onchocerciasis patients coming from the south-western area of this country and the vector species Simulium yahense and Simulium squamosum which assume the essential of onchocerciasis transmission in the above-mentioned mining area. In fact, the Onchocerca volvulus strains concerned by this contact seem to be more pathogenic than those locally transmitted. In order to assess the danger it could represent for the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa, we carried out the experimental study of transmission which may result from this contact when more or less infected onchocerciasis patients are involved. The results indicated that this transmission by S. yahense may reach high proportions only when heavily infected onchocerciasis patients are implicated. We took also notice of the low capacity of S. squamosum to transmit the O. volvulus strains from the south-western Sierra Leone, irrespective of the microfilarial load of patients. Thus, in the most favorable conditions of a high parasite-vector contact of the study, involvement of S. yahense and onchocerciasis patients with high skin microfilarial loads is the only occurrence to which a high risk of intensive transmission may be related. The authors consider that the probability of such a risk occurring will be drastically reduced, due to the considerable decrease of skin microfilarial loads in human communities which regularly have the advantage of ivermectin (Mectizan) mass treatments.
Animals↗