ArticleParasites & vectors2020
Biting rates and relative abundance of Simulium flies under different climatic conditions in an onchocerciasis endemic community in Ghana.
Article in Parasites & vectors, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Public health impact of nuisance biting blackfly (Simulium damnosum s.l.) along the Asejire dam in Southwest, Nigeria.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Impact of seasonal changes on human onchocerciasis transmission and disease elimination.International health · 2026Review
- Adult blackfly (Simulium damnosum s.l.) collection methods: overview and research needs.International health · 2026Review
- Spatio-temporal analysis and geostatistical modelling of onchocerciasis prevalence in Nigeria to support elimination efforts.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- Knowledge and attitude of populations on blackflies and onchocerciasis and participation in mass drug administration in first-line communities near Erin-Ijesha and Arinta waterfalls, Southwest Nigeria.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Usability, acceptability, and cost of the SD BIOLINE Ov16 rapid diagnostic test for onchocerciasis surveillance in endemic communities in the middle belt of Ghana.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Persistent transmission of onchocerciasis in Kwanware-Ottou focus in Wenchi health district, Ghana.BMC infectious diseases · 2024Article
- First microscopic, pathological, epidemiological, and molecular investigation ofFrontiers in veterinary science · 2024Article
- Risk of Attacks by Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) and Occurrence of Severe Skin Symptoms in Bitten Patients along the Eastern Border of the European Union.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
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7 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundKnowledge of the relative abundance and biting rates of riverine blackflies (vectors of onchocerciasis) is essential as these entomological indices affect transmission of the disease. However, transmission patterns vary from one ecological zone to another and this may be due to differences in species of blackfly vectors and the climatic conditions in the area. This study investigated the effects of climate variability on the relative abundance and biting rates of blackflies in the Tanfiano community (Nkoranza North District, Bono East Region, Ghana). Such information will help to direct policy on effective timing of the annual mass drug administration of ivermectin in the area.
methodsThe study employed human landing collections and locally built Esperanza window traps to collect blackflies from March 2018 to February 2019. The relative abundance and biting rates of the Simulium vectors as well as the monthly climatic conditions of the study area were monitored. Correlation analysis and Poisson regression were used to establish the relationships between the variables.
resultsThe relative abundance and biting rates of the Simulium vectors were highest in the drier months of March, April and August, characterized by high temperatures, low humidity, longer hours of sunshine and stronger winds. The rainy months of May, June and July, characterized by low temperatures, high humidity, few hours of sunshine and weaker winds, had relatively low blackfly abundance and biting activity. Correlation analysis showed that only temperature was significantly, positively correlated with the relative abundance of blackflies (r = 0.617, n = 12, P = 0.033) and monthly biting rates (r = 0.612, n = 12, P = 0.034). A model to predict relative abundance and monthly biting rates using climatological variables was developed.
conclusionsThis study demonstrated that Simulium species in the study area preferred higher temperature, lower humidity and rainfall, more hours of sunshine and relatively stronger winds for survival. It is thus recommended that for the study district and others with similar climatological characteristics, mass drug administration of ivermectin should take place in April and September when the abundance of vectors has begun to decline after peaking.
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