Dam-spillway breeding of<i>Simulium damnosum</i>Theobald in northern Ghana

Burton, George J.; McRae, Thomas M.

doi:10.1080/00034983.1965.11720810

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The high baseline biting rates observed at the Maridi dam were not surprising; indeed, dam spillways have been reported to be excellent black fly breeding sites in the past [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Such areas need to be prioritized for onchocerciasis elimination efforts, since ivermectin alone may not be sufficient to achieve elimination in the face of such productive breeding sites, and additional tools may be needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Slash and Clear”, a Community-Based Vector Control Method to Reduce Onchocerciasis Transmission by Simulium sirbanum in Maridi, South Sudan: A Prospective Study

Raimon¹,

Lakwo

Sebit³

et al. 2021

Pathogens

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Slash and Clear”, a Community-Based Vector Control Method to Reduce Onchocerciasis Transmission by Simulium sirbanum in Maridi, South Sudan: A Prospective Study

Raimon¹,

Lakwo

Sebit³

et al. 2021

Pathogens

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“…Our study in Maridi suggests that the construction of the Maridi dam and particularly its repair in the year 2000, together with the interruption of the MDA of ivermectin, may have played a major role in causing the OAE epidemic. High biting rates by blackflies have been reported in the environment of dam spillways and were shown to increase onchocerciasis transmission [27][28][29][30][31]. Six cases of onchocerciasis were diagnosed in expatriates working on a hydroelectric dam project in Taabo (Ivory Coast) between 1977 and 1978 [32].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of the Maridi Dam in Causing an Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy Epidemic in Maridi, South Sudan: An Epidemiological, Sociological, and Entomological Study

Lakwo

Raimon²,

Tionga³

et al. 2020

Pathogens

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Background: An epilepsy prevalence of 4.4% was documented in onchocerciasis-endemic villages close to the Maridi River in South Sudan. We investigated the role of the Maridi dam in causing an onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy epidemic in these villages. Methods: Affected communities were visited in November 2019 to conduct focus group discussions with village elders and assess the OV16 seroprevalence in 3- to 9-year-old children. Entomological assessments to map blackfly breeding sites and determine biting rates around the Maridi River were conducted. Historical data regarding various activities at the Maridi dam were obtained from the administrative authorities. Results: The Maridi dam was constructed in 1954–1955. Village elders reported an increasing number of children developing epilepsy, including nodding syndrome, from the early 1990s. Kazana 2 (the village closest to the dam; epilepsy prevalence 11.9%) had the highest OV16 seroprevalence: 40.0% among children 3–6 years old and 66.7% among children 7–9 years old. The Maridi dam spillway was found to be the only Simulium damnosum breeding site along the river, with biting rates reaching 202 flies/man/h. Conclusion: Onchocerciasis transmission rates are high in Maridi. Suitable breeding conditions at the Maridi dam, coupled with suboptimal onchocerciasis control measures, have probably played a major role in causing an epilepsy (including nodding syndrome) epidemic in the Maridi area.

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“…These include the filarial diseases, Wuchereira bancrofti, Dipetalonema perstans, D. streptocerca, and koa Loa, all of which are mosquito-borne, (Hunter, 1966). In this case, there is clear evidence of the dams creating spill-way breeding sites for Simulium damnosum, the black fly vector of the disease (Burton, et al, 1965;Hughes, et al, 1970). Thus "spill-way onchocerciasis" added to an already grave situation of endemic blindness.…”

Section: Other Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Past explosion and future threat: Exacerbation of red water disease (Schistosomiasis haematobium) in the Upper Region of Ghana

Hunter

1981

GeoJournal

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Dam-spillway breeding ofSimulium damnosumTheobald in northern Ghana

Cited by 11 publications

References 3 publications

“Slash and Clear”, a Community-Based Vector Control Method to Reduce Onchocerciasis Transmission by Simulium sirbanum in Maridi, South Sudan: A Prospective Study

“Slash and Clear”, a Community-Based Vector Control Method to Reduce Onchocerciasis Transmission by Simulium sirbanum in Maridi, South Sudan: A Prospective Study

The Role of the Maridi Dam in Causing an Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy Epidemic in Maridi, South Sudan: An Epidemiological, Sociological, and Entomological Study

Past explosion and future threat: Exacerbation of red water disease (Schistosomiasis haematobium) in the Upper Region of Ghana

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