A taxa summary for the Simulium damnosum complex, with special reference to distribution outside the control areas of West Africa

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

Background

The presence of breeding sites and distribution of species of Simulium damnosum sensu lato are critical in understanding the epidemiology of onchocerciasis and evaluating the impact of elimination interventions. Reports on breeding sites and species distribution of members of S. damnosum s.l. in Cameroon are scarce and the few ones available date back to more than three decades. The aim of this study is to provide information on S. damnosum breeding sites across the rainy (RS) and dry (DS) seasons and the species composition in three different regions in Cameroon: Southwest (SW), Northwest (NW) and North (N).

Methods

A cross-sectional two-season study was carried out in three regions with different ecological characteristics (SW—rainforest; NW—mixed forest–Guinea savanna; N—Sudan savanna). Pre-control onchocerciasis endemicity, relief maps and historical entomological information were used to identify potential rivers for purposive sampling. Sampled larvae were fixed in Carnoy’s solution and sorted, and S. damnosum s.l. larvae were stored until identification by cytotaxonomy. Geographical coordinates of potential breeding sites were recorded to produce maps using ArcGIS, while Chi-square tests in SPSS were used to test for any differences between black fly seasonal breeding rates.

Results

A total of 237 potential breeding sites were sampled (RS = 81; DS = 156) and 72 were found positive for S. damnosum s.l. The SW had the most positive sites [67 (RS = 24; DS = 43)], with a significant difference in the rate of breeding between the seasons (P < 0.05). Among 68 sites visited in both seasons, 16 (23.5%) were positive in one of the two seasons with more sites positive in DS(11) than RS(05), 14 (20.6%) and 38 (55.9%) respectively positive and negative in both seasons. Simulium damnosum sensu stricto and S. sirbanum were the main species in the N, while S. squamosum and S. mengense were the predominant species in the NW and SW. Simulium soubrense and S. yahense were uniquely recorded in the SW.

Conclusions

A comprehensive mapping of breeding sites requires rainy and dry seasons sampling. This study demonstrates that a breeding site survey of S. damnosum s.l. is achievable in forest as well as savanna zones. Not all potential breeding sites are actual breeding sites. Observation of S. soubrense in the SW indicates changes in species composition over time and could affect onchocerciasis epidemiology in this area.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05462-w.

Situation analysis of parasitological and entomological indices of onchocerciasis transmission in three drainage basins of the rain forest of South West Cameroon after a decade of ivermectin treatment

BACKGROUND

Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) is the main strategy adopted by the African Programme for Onchocerciasis control (APOC). Recent reports from onchocerciasis endemic areas of savannah zones have demonstrated the feasibility of disease elimination through CDTI. Such information is lacking in rain forest zones. In this study, we investigated the parasitological and entomological indices of onchocerciasis transmission in three drainage basins in the rain forest area of Cameroon [after over a decade of CDTI]. River basins differed in terms of river number and their flow rates; and were characterized by high pre-control prevalence rates (60-98%).

METHODS

Nodule palpation and skin snipping were carried out in the study communities to determine the nodule rates, microfilarial prevalences and intensity. Simulium flies were caught at capture points and dissected to determine the biting, parous, infection and infective rates and the transmission potential.

RESULTS

The highest mean microfilaria (mf) prevalence was recorded in the Meme (52.7%), followed by Mungo (41.0%) and Manyu drainage basin (33.0%). The same trend was seen with nodule prevalence between the drainage basins. Twenty-three (23/39) communities (among which 13 in the Meme) still had mf prevalence above 40%. All the communities surveyed had community microfilarial loads (CMFL) below 10 mf/skin snip (ss). The infection was more intense in the Mungo and Meme. The intensity of infection was still high in younger individuals and children less than 10 years of age. Transmission potentials as high as 1211.7 infective larvae/person/month were found in some of the study communities. Entomological indices followed the same trend as the parasitological indices in the three river basins with the Meme having the highest values.

CONCLUSION

When compared with pre-control data, results of the present study show that after over a decade of CDTI, the burden of onchocerciasis has reduced. However, transmission is still going on in this study site where loiasis and onchocerciasis are co-endemic and where ecological factors strongly favour the onchocerciasis transmission. The possible reasons for this persistent and differential transmission despite over a decade of control efforts using ivermectin are discussed.

Descriptions of members of theSimulium damnosumcomplex (Diptera: Simuliidae) from southern Africa, Ethiopia and Tanzania

This paper presents cytotaxonomic details of five populations of the Simulium damnosum complex from South Africa, Swaziland and Ethiopia. The 'Nkusi SW' and 'Pienaars' forms are newly designated members of the complex from South Africa, but the taxonomic rank of an isolate indistinguishable chromosomally from the 'Nkusi' cytoform remains unclear. From Ethiopia two cytoforms were identified, one of which shares two diagnostic chromosome inversions with the cytoform 'Kisiwani' from Tanzania. The second form belongs to S. kaffaense, and is the suspected local vector of Onchocerca volvulus. In addition, a re-analysis of the cytoform 'Kibwezi' from north-eastern Tanzania provided further insights into its population subdivision, and its genetic and morphological characteristics. Cytotaxonomic similarities between 'Kibwezi', S. mengense and S. pandanophilum, along with their biogeography, indicate a relict status of each of these taxa.

The cytotaxonomy and morphotaxonomy ofSimulium mengense(Diptera: Simuliidae)

Human onchocerciasis is hyper-endemic in south-western Cameroon and the island of Bioko. The vector on the island is the endemic 'Bioko' form of Simulium yahense. On the mainland, S. damnosum s.s., S. squamosum and S. mengense are recorded around Mount Cameroon but their contribution to transmission in the area is unclear. As elimination of onchocerciasis, through vector eradication, is a possibility on the island, it is important to be able to identify vector flies which might migrate to Bioko from the mainland. The morphologies of S. damnosum s.s. and S. squamosum are already well known. New cytotaxonomic and morphotaxonomic descriptions of S. mengense, a species which is less well known, are presented. Simulium mengense can be distinguished from the other cytospecies in the area by the presence of tufts of hair-like setae on the larval thorax, the presence of hairs on the subcostal vein of the adult female, and by the scutal pattern of the adult male. Although Vajime and Dunbar described seven fixed inversions in S. mengense, in 1977, nine were observed in the present study. Of the nine, three were the same as Vajime and Dunbar's but the other six were either missed or misinterpreted by them.

Taxonomy and inventory of the cytospecies and cytotypes of the Simulium damnosum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) in relation to onchocerciasis

We provide an inventory of all named cytoforms of the Simulium damnosum complex (including those which are now considered invalid), along with all inversions that have been recorded (including synonyms and homonyms). There are 55 valid and distinct cytoforms known from the S. damnosum complex making it the largest sibling species complex of any vectors, and probably of any insect or other animal. All cytoforms are listed along with their fixed and diagnostic inversions and country distribution. There are 183 inversions known from the complex as a whole, of which 49% are fixed and/or diagnostic between cytoforms, and the fixed/diagnostic inversions seem to occur disproportionately on chromosome arm 2L.

Cytogenetic and PCR-based identification of S. damnosum'Nkusi J' as the anthropophilic blackfly in the Uluguru onchocerciasis focus in Tanzania

A combined molecular and cytogenetic analysis was used to identify the local blackfly vectors of onchocerciasis in the Uluguru Mts. focus, Morogoro region, central Tanzania. Cytotaxonomic identification revealed the occurrence of three cytospecies of the Simulium damnosum complex, along altitudinal gradients. The cytoform "Nkusi" was found breeding at low to mid-altitudes (100-500 m), while S. kilibanum was found at mid- and high altitudes (300-1260 m), being sympatric with "Sebwe" only in the highlands. The analyses further revealed the cytoform "Nkusi" from the nearby Kilosa focus. Simulium kilibanum and "Nkusi" are potential vectors of onchocerciasis, while the "Sebwe" form is considered non-anthropophilic and therefore not a vector. By means of molecular typing of wild-caught females, "Nkusi" was incriminated as the man-biting fly at all catching sites, and consequently, is the assumed vector of onchocerciasis over the full altitude range. In the high altitude zones, however, S. neavei group species may act as secondary vectors at the edge of the forest reserve, if transmission actually occurs there at all. Our results also suggest that vector control could be feasible because of the vector species breeding in the foothills below 500 m in relatively accessible open country.

Revision of the Ketaketa subcomplex of blackflies of the Simulium damnosum complex

A revision of the taxonomy of the Ketaketa subcomplex of the Simulium damnosum Theobald complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) is presented including new material from Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa. The cytotaxonomy, morphology and molecular identity of known and new taxa are described. The Ketaketa subcomplex is cytotaxonomically defined by the paracentric inversion 1L-7. We recognize three sibling species, namely Simulium latipollex (Enderlein), Simulium plumbeum Krueger, sp.n. and Simulium kipengere Krueger, sp.n., the latter comprising three cytoforms: 'Typical', 'Linthipe' and 'Mombo'. The cytoforms 'Mwamphanzi', 'Ketaketa' and 'Hammerkopi' are synonymized with S. plumbeum. Identification keys are provided on the basis of chromosomal and morphological characters. In view of their potential role as vectors of human onchocerciasis (river blindness) we also discuss the possible medical importance of the different cytoforms and their geographical distribution.

Twenty-two years of blackfly control in the onchocerciasis control programme in West Africa

Twenty-two years after the launch of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP), Jean-Marc Hougard and colleagues critically review the vector-control strategy adopted. They go on to identify the few hydrological basins where transmission of the infection remains difficult to control, to analyse the causes and to propose appropriate corrective measures on a case-by-case basis. Most of these measures, which are mainly based on ivermectin chemotherapy, will continue to be applied after the end of the OCP in 2002, under the control of the countries concerned.

A new cytotype of Simulium squamosum from south-west Cameroon

A new cytotype of Simulium squamosum Enderlein (Diptera: Simuliidae) (here named S. squamosum'D') is described from around Mount Cameroon in south-west Cameroon on the basis of sex-chromosome differences on the short arm of chromosome I. Two polymorphic inversions, IS-To (a new inversion) and IS-2, are partially Y linked. These inversions usually occur together, although IS-To has a higher frequency and is more strongly Y linked than IS-2. This sex-chromosome system has not been previously described and the occurrence and evolution of sex-chromosome systems in S. squamosum is discussed.

Experimental studies on the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus by its vector in the Sanaga valley (Cameroon): Simulium squamosum B. Intake of microfilariae and their migration to the haemocoel of the vector

As large-scale ivermectin distribution is becoming the mainstay of onchocerciasis control in Africa, the issue of its impact on local transmission is increasing in importance. The vector competence of Simulium squamosum B in the severe focus of the Sanaga valley, Cameroon, was therefore investigated, by feeding 1320 flies on 14 carriers of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae (mff). The results enabled the relationships between skin microfilarial load, microfilarial intake by the flies, the proportion and mean number of ingested mff that succeed in reaching the fly's haemocoel, and the frequency distribution of the ingested mff to be described, as functions of time post-engorgement (p.e.) and parasite density (while taking account of possible measurement error in the predictor variable). The proportion of flies with haemocoelic mff and the mean number of mff/fly increased up to 3 h p.e. The proportion of flies with ingested mff was non-linearly related to mean intake, via the negative-binomial distribution, with the overdispersion parameter k best described as an increasing (power) function of the mean. Approximately one in every three ingested mff escaped imprisonment by the peritrophic matrix, irrespective of the skin microfilarial load or the intake of mff. The relationship between successful and input mff is nearly linear (indicating proportionality) in S. squamosum B. These results are compared with those from O. volvulus-S. damnosum s.l. combinations in other West African foci.

Sex chromosome variation and cytotaxonomy of the onchocerciasis vector Simulium squamosum in Cameroon and Nigeria

On the basis of sex chromosome variation, three cytotypes of Simulium squamosum (Enderlein) (Diptera: Simuliidae) are described from Cameroon and Nigeria. Simulium squamosum A is the typical form as originally described by Vajime & Dunbar (1975) with chromosome I as the sex chromosome. It occurs throughout most of Cameroon and south-east Nigeria. A second cytotype, S. squamosum B, is described from the river Sanaga (Cameroon). It also has chromosome I as the sex chromosome, but the nature of the sex differential region is different. Simulium squamosum C has no sex-linked chromosomal rearrangements. It is widespread in Nigeria and occurs near Mount Cameroon, where it seems to hybridize with S. squamosum A.

Patterns of epidemiology and control of onchocerciasis in west Africa

This paper summarizes the work of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) in West Africa, a programme which over a 22 year history has reduced the public health problems of blinding onchocerciasis in eleven countries of West Africa through vector control and, more recently, ivermectin distribution. The paper emphasizes the different approaches to control the programme has developed in the different parts of the programme area which have been determined by the epidemiology of the disease (savanna/forest form), the migratory characteristics of the vectors, intensity of the disease before commencement of treatment, the combined impact of vector control and ivermectin and the likelihood of infiltration of infective blackflies from outside the programme area. The programme has constantly monitored the impact of operations on the trends in prevalence, incidence, annual transmission potential, ocular morbidity and species of fly populations, and as a result, has identified areas where special interventions are required until the programme comes to an end in 2002. The paper illustrates the changes in intensity of infection as measured by community microfilarial load and annual transmission potential over the duration of the programme control activities. The paper also defines and justifies the control strategies in different areas and identifies areas for special interventions.

Vector-parasite transmission complexes for onchocerciasis in West Africa

BACKGROUND

In West Africa, there are two strains of the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus, which differ in their ability to induce ocular disease. Transmission studies have suggested that six sibling species of the parasite vector, the black fly Simulium damnosum sensu lato, allow development of the two strains of O volvulus with varying efficiency. We aimed to test the hypothesis of parasite-vector complexes, whereby the two parasite strains, known as forest and savanna, are preferentially transmitted by distinct groups of the species of S damnosum S l.

METHODS

During 1993 and 1994, wild black flies were collected from 11 river basins within the area covered by the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP). The flies were dissected and filarial larvae, ovaries, and malpighian tubules removed. Genomic DNA was extracted from larvae, and PCR amplification was used to classify O volvulus parasites as forest or savanna strains. PCR-amplified DNA from ovaries and malpighian tubules was used to distinguish sibling species of S damnosum s l. S yahense and S squamosum were distinguished by body colour.

FINDINGS

214 of 105105 flies dissected were infected with filarial larvae; 84 of these were infected with mature O volvulus parasites. Of the 35 savanna-dwelling infected flies. 17 carried forest-strain parasites and 18 savanna-strain parasites. Of the 45 infected flies identified as the forest dwelling sibling species. 20 carried savanna-strain parasites and 25 forest-strain parasites. No significant differences were found in the numbers of mature larvae of each strain carried by the forest-dwelling species of fly or in the number of forest and savanna larvae in savanna-dwelling vector species.

INTERPRETATION

Vector-parasite transmission complexes do not currently play a part in the biology of O volvulus transmission in the area of the OCP in West Africa. This finding has important strategic implications for the future of efforts to control onchocerciasis in West Africa.

Cytotaxonomic identifications of the Simulium damnosum complex (Diptera:Simuliidae) from Nigeria

Cytotaxonomic analysis of Simulium damnosum s.l. larvae collected from 23 sites across 4 bioclimatic zones in Nigeria revealed the presence of 5 cytospecies (S. damnosum s.str., S. sirbanum, S. squamosum, S. yahense and S. soubrense (including the Beffa form). The biogeographical distribution of the sibling species was mostly similar to that observed further west in the OCP area, although geographic cytotaxonomic variation was recorded in S. squamosum, S. damnosum s.str. and S. sirbanum. Some aspects of the chemical and physical environment of the breeding habitats were investigated.

The Simulium damnosum species complex: phylogenetic analysis and molecular identification based upon mitochondrially encoded gene sequences

The DNA sequence of portions of the 16s rRNA and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) genes were used to determine phylogenetic relationships in the Simulium damnosum s.l. species complex. Results suggested that at least two major clades existed in the S. damnosum species complex, and that members of the S. damnosum s.l. species complex were not closely related to North American Simulium species. The sequence variability of the ND4 gene was exploited to develop a method to distinguish the sibling species of the S. damnosum s.l. species complex, based on directed heteroduplex analysis of PCR products derived from the ND4 gene. This method was capable of classifying the six sibling species into at least five groups.

The impact of small dams on parasitic diseases in cameroon

Economic development in Africa implies the provision of vast, sparsely populated regions with improved road networks and agricultural techniques. Climatic constraints mean that control of water resources is essential in arid areas. But hydrogrophic modifications also have the potential for adverse impact on the health of local populations. The extension of water sources and their all year round supply of water mean that people are attracted towards them, and to the same places where conditions favour the spread of intermediate hosts and vectors of parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, drocunculiasis and malaria. Doctor, epidemiologists, and the engineers involved in rural earth-works must therefore work together to establish systems that impede the transmission of such diseases. Examples from the Cameroon typify the need for such an approach.