Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41649156›Full record

ReviewInternational health2026

Defining onchocerciasis transmission zones: integrating operational insights with genomic and ecological advances.

Arwa Elaagip, Lassane Koala, Dziedzom K de Souza, Kareen Atekem, Olabanji Surakat, Franklin Ayisi, Adoum Mahamat Oumar, Anne Heggen, Charles D Mackenzie, Daniel A Boakye

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in International health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Arwa ElaagipDepartment of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11115, Sudan.ORCID 0000-0003-4091-8345
Lassane KoalaCentre National de Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST)/ Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Département Biomédical et Santé Publique, Direction Régionale de l'Ouest, 02, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.ORCID 0000-0002-6868-9516
Dziedzom K de SouzaDepartment of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0001-5000-6177
Kareen AtekemDepartment of Entomology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State, University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8225-1847
Olabanji SurakatDepartment of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Basic and Applied, Sciences, Osun State University, Main Campus, Okebaale, Osogbo, Nigeria.
Franklin AyisiAfrican Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), University of Ghana, PMB LG 59, Legon, Accra, Ghana.ORCID 0009-0002-6629-1472
Adoum Mahamat OumarNational Program for the Elimination of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic filariasis, Ministry of Health and Prevention, 440 Avenue Félix Éboué, N'Djamena, Chad.
Anne HeggenThe END Fund, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Charles D MackenzieThe END Fund, New York, NY 10016, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4628-8188
Daniel A BoakyeDepartment of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation OPP1193778Reaching the Last Mile Fund
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic infection caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus and is transmitted through the bites of blackflies of the genus Simulium that breed in rivers and streams. The current WHO definition of transmission zones is limited, leaving country programmes to address challenges such as delineating transmission zones correctly, addressing blackfly migration, managing parasite and host movement and handling cross-border transmission issues. A more data-driven approach to the practical definition of transmission zones in African countries would be advantageous. A review of the documents in the WHO Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (WHO IRIS) and using standard search engines (e.g. PubMed, Google Scholar) has identified previously less recognised factors that could enhance the definition and use of transmission areas in onchocerciasis areas. These guiding observations integrate historical operational, entomological, epidemiological and ecological information with genomic aspects.

Indexed as

Insect VectorsOnchocerca volvulusOnchocerciasisSimuliidaeAfricaAnimalsGenomicsHumansblackfly migrationcross-border transmissiondelineation extensionsonchocerciasisoperational transmission zonesreinvasiontransmission zones

Identifiers

PMID41649156
PMCPMC13223401

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.