ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025
A community-based vector control intervention "Slash and Clear" implemented in two onchocerciasis-endemic foci in South Sudan.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Investigating impact of slash and clear vector control strategy on blackfly population and onchocerciasis transmission in a hotspot in Nigeria.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDespite several rounds of ivermectin treatment, onchocerciasis transmission persists in Mvolo and Mundri West Counties (Western Equatoria State, South Sudan). A community-based "Slash and clear" (S&C) vector control method was recently introduced, but its effectiveness remains unclear.
methodsBetween October 2023 and November 2024, entomological studies were conducted to map blackfly breeding sites along River Naam (Mvolo County) and River Yei (Mundri West County). Following baseline assessment of daily biting rates at multiple catching sites, one round of S&C was implemented at selected intervention sites. Monthly biting rates (MBR) were monitored over a follow-up period of 8-14 months and compared between intervention and control sites.
resultsThirteen breeding sites of Simulium damnosum, sensu lato. were found on the Naam and Yei Rivers. Biting rates were consistently higher during the rainy season than the dry season across both Counties. On the Naam River (14 months of follow-up), Mann-Kendall trend tests showed non-significant reductions in MBRs at both intervention (tau = -0.038, p-value = 0.881) and control sites (tau = -0.135, p-value = 0.313). Similar non-significant changes were observed on the Yei River (8 months follow-up), with tau = 0.046 (p-value = 0.820) and tau = 0.163 (p-value = 0.363) for intervention and control sites, respectively. Generalized additive models (GAM) regression analysis indicated that seasonality was the only significant predictor of MBR, with increased biting rates during the rainy season (p < 0.001). A single round of S&C at baseline did not result in significant reductions in MBRs (p-value = 0.651 in Mvolo and p-value = 0.531 in Mundri West).
conclusionBlackfly biting rates in Mvolo and Mundri West Counties are strongly influenced by seasonal variations, peaking during the rainy season. Our findings indicate that a single round of S&C is insufficient to reduce blackfly biting in the medium term. Repeated and strategically timed annual implementation of S&C is likely required to achieve significant and lasting vector control impacts.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.