ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2021
Human immune response against salivary antigens of Simulium damnosum s.l.: A new epidemiological marker for exposure to blackfly bites in onchocerciasis endemic areas.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Specificity of Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus tobbi recombinant salivary proteins developed as serological surveillance tool.Parasites & vectors · 2026Article
- Adult blackfly (Simulium damnosum s.l.) collection methods: overview and research needs.International health · 2026Review
- Development of new screening tools to evaluate dog exposure to Phlebotomus tobbi and Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies.Parasites & vectors · 2026Article
- 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
- Modelling transmission thresholds and hypoendemic stability for onchocerciasis elimination.PLoS computational biology · 2025Article
- Morphological description and genetic analysis of a new black fly species (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the subgenus Asiosimulium from central Thailand.Parasites & vectors · 2024Article
- 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
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSimulium damnosum sensu lato (s.l.) blackflies transmit Onchocerca volvulus, a filarial nematode that causes human onchocerciasis. Human landing catches (HLCs) is currently the sole method used to estimate blackfly biting rates but is labour-intensive and questionable on ethical grounds. A potential alternative is to measure host antibodies to vector saliva deposited during bloodfeeding. In this study, immunoassays to quantify human antibody responses to S. damnosum s.l. saliva were developed, and the salivary proteome of S. damnosum s.l. was investigated. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL
findingsBlood samples from people living in onchocerciasis-endemic areas in Ghana were collected during the wet season; samples from people living in Accra, a blackfly-free area, were considered negative controls and compared to samples from blackfly-free locations in Sudan. Blackflies were collected by HLCs and dissected to extract their salivary glands. An ELISA measuring anti-S. damnosum s.l. salivary IgG and IgM was optimized and used to quantify the humoral immune response of 958 individuals. Both immunoassays differentiated negative controls from endemic participants. Salivary proteins were separated by gel-electrophoresis, and antigenic proteins visualized by immunoblot. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to characterize the proteome of S. damnosum s.l. salivary glands. Several antigenic proteins were recognized, with the major ones located around 15 and 40 kDa. LC-MS/MS identified the presence of antigen 5-related protein, apyrase/nucleotidase, and hyaluronidase. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study validated for the first time human immunoassays that quantify humoral immune responses as potential markers of exposure to blackfly bites. These assays have the potential to facilitate understanding patterns of exposure as well as evaluating the impact of vector control on biting rates. Future studies need to investigate seasonal fluctuations of these antibody responses, potential cross-reactions with other bloodsucking arthropods, and thoroughly identify the most immunogenic proteins.
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