ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2015
Onchocerciasis transmission in Ghana: persistence under different control strategies and the role of the simuliid vectors.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03517462 (Microfilarial Clearance From the Eye and Ocular Changes Associated With Ivermectin Treatment in Individuals With Onchocerciasis), which is not on this map. Cited by 37 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Microfilarial Clearance From the Eye and Ocular Changes Associated With Ivermectin Treatment in Individuals With Onchocerciasis
Who cites it
37 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A systematic review comparing the performance of alternative blackfly (Simulium) trapping methods against the standard human landing catch (HLC) for onchocerciasis surveillance.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Pooled it
- Programmatic implications of the efficiency of uptake of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae by Simulium sp. vectors.International health · 2026Article
- Significant gap between Point participation and long‑term treatment adherence: An evaluation of ivermectin MDA in the Kwanware‑Ottou persistent onchocerciasis transmission focus, Wenchi, Ghana.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- Entomological surveillance of onchocerciasis in Burkina Faso: Progress towards interrupting transmission in blackflies in the main river basins of the country.Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases · 2025Article
- The Impact of Onchocerciasis Elimination Measures in Africa: A Systematic Review.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2024Review
- Persistent transmission of onchocerciasis in Kwanware-Ottou focus in Wenchi health district, Ghana.BMC infectious diseases · 2024Article
- [Global ophthalmology : Update].Die Ophthalmologie · 2024Article
- Awareness of and participation in mass drug administration programs used for onchocerciasis control in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District, Ghana.Global health research and policy · 2023Article
- A cross-sectional study of Simulium damnosum sensu lato breeding sites and species distribution in Sudan savanna, mixed savanna-forest and rainforest regions in Cameroon.Parasites & vectors · 2022Article
- Habitat preference of blackflies in Omo Gibe river basin (southwest Ethiopia): Implications for onchocerciasis elimination and control.PloS one · 2022Article
- Demographic patterns of human antibody levels to Simulium damnosum s.l. saliva in onchocerciasis-endemic areas: An indicator of exposure to vector bites.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2022Article
- Human immune response against salivary antigens of Simulium damnosum s.l.: A new epidemiological marker for exposure to blackfly bites in onchocerciasis endemic areas.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2021Article
- Progress towards onchocerciasis elimination in Côte d'Ivoire: A geospatial modelling study.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2021Article
- Antischistosomal, antionchocercal and antitrypanosomal potentials of some Ghanaian traditional medicines and their constituents.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2020Article
- Status of parasitological indicators and morbidity burden of onchocerciasis after years of successive implementation of mass distribution of ivermectin in selected communities of Yeki and Asosa districts, Ethiopia.BMC public health · 2020Article
- Designing antifilarial drug trials using clinical trial simulators.Nature communications · 2020Article
- Biting rates and relative abundance of Simulium flies under different climatic conditions in an onchocerciasis endemic community in Ghana.Parasites & vectors · 2020Article
- Accelerating river blindness elimination by supplementing MDA with a vegetation "slash and clear" vector control strategy: a data-driven modeling analysis.Scientific reports · 2019Article
- Reaching the last mile: main challenges relating to and recommendations to accelerate onchocerciasis elimination in Africa.Infectious diseases of poverty · 2019Review
- Review of the National Program for Onchocerciasis Control in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) aims at eliminating onchocerciasis by 2020 in selected African countries. Current control focuses on community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI). In Ghana, persistent transmission has been reported despite long-term control. We present spatial and temporal patterns of onchocerciasis transmission in relation to ivermectin treatment history. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL
findingsHost-seeking and ovipositing blackflies were collected from seven villages in four regions of Ghana with 3-24 years of CDTI at the time of sampling. A total of 16,443 flies was analysed for infection; 5,812 (35.3%) were dissected for parity (26.9% parous). Heads and thoraces of 12,196 flies were dissected for Onchocerca spp. and DNA from 11,122 abdomens was amplified using Onchocerca primers. A total of 463 larvae (0.03 larvae/fly) from 97 (0.6%) infected and 62 (0.4%) infective flies was recorded; 258 abdomens (2.3%) were positive for Onchocerca DNA. Infections (all were O. volvulus) were more likely to be detected in ovipositing flies. Transmission occurred, mostly in the wet season, at Gyankobaa and Bosomase, with transmission potentials of, respectively, 86 and 422 L3/person/month after 3 and 6 years of CDTI. The numbers of L3/1,000 parous flies at these villages were over 100 times the WHO threshold of one L3/1,000 for transmission control. Vector species influenced transmission parameters. At Asubende, the number of L3/1,000 ovipositing flies (1.4, 95% CI = 0-4) also just exceeded the threshold despite extensive vector control and 24 years of ivermectin distribution, but there were no infective larvae in host-seeking flies. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Despite repeated ivermectin treatment, evidence of O. volvulus transmission was documented in all seven villages and above the WHO threshold in two. Vector species influences transmission through biting and parous rates and vector competence, and should be included in transmission models. Oviposition traps could augment vector collector methods for monitoring and surveillance.
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