Prospects for developing efficient targets for the xenomonitoring and control of Simulium damnosum s.l., the major vectors of onchocerciasis in Africa. Issue 3 (22nd July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Koala, Lassane; Tirados, Inaki; Nikiema, Achille S.; Thomsen, Edward; McCall, Philip J.; Dabire, Roch K.
• Other Names: Bockarie Moses guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Medical and veterinary entomology. Volume 36:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 235
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2022-07-22
• Subjects: onchocerciasis -- simulium -- trapping -- surveillance and control; Entomology -- Periodicals; Veterinary entomology -- Periodicals; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.968
• DOI: 10.1111/mve.12598
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-283X

Abstract

Abstract: Despite the ethical issues concerning the continued use of Human Landing Catches (HLC) to monitor the Simulium damnosum complex for epidemiological monitoring of onchocericasis, few attempts to develop alternatives have been reported. In studies on a wild population of S. damnosum in Burkina Faso, we tested visual targets (different sizes and shapes) and olfactory stimuli (CO2, and POCA and BG‐lure® odour blends) for their ability to attract and collect host seeking blackflies. At each trap, blackflies were caught with appropriately sized electrocuting grids and results from Latin square design tests were compared. Throughout, HLCs captured more blackflies than the targets. Of the traps tested, small targets (0.0625 and 0.5 m 2 ) were the most efficient visual lure in terms of the number of S. damnosum captured per unit area 1.7–5× more than larger targets. Overall, results suggested that sticky black targets of horizontal rectangular shape (0.125–0.5 m 2 ) and baited with a POCA and/or CO2 mixture could provide a cheap practical field alternative to HLC for onchocerciasis xenomonitoring, subject to confirmation that the design has no inherent bias for certain members of the S. damnosum species complex. Abstract : Highlight 1: Our results revealed that smaller targets attract as many savanna S. damnosum than largest ones. Highlight 2: Horizontal oblongs targets are more attractive to savanna S. damnosum . Highlight 3: Horizontal oblong target baited with POCA blend collected highly number of savanna S. damnosum .