Abstract
The effectiveness of the MosqTent® trap was evaluated in endemic area to onchocerciasis in Brazil. This study seeks to provide subsidies for the monitoring of the onchocerciasis transmission in the country. The study was carried out at the Homoxi and Thirei villages, located in the Yanomami Indigenous Land, in the state of Roraima. This area presents hyperendemicity, high blackflies densities, large population migrations and mining activities. The Homoxi and Thirei villages are assisted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. To conduct the present study, the village leader, health leaders and the Brazilian Ethics Committee were consulted. Blackflies captures were carried out simultaneously at the Homoxi and Thirei, using systematized methods to allow for comparisons between the traditional Human Landing Catch (HLC) and HLC protected by the MosqTent®. The female blackflies were captured at two equidistant capture stations per locality, by two collectors per station, for five consecutive days. Individuals captured by interval/station/day were counted, identified and maintained at -20°C. The underlying probability distributions and the differences between the methods for the independent sample data were verified in a comparative statistical analysis between the use of the MosqTent® and the HLC. A total of 10,855 antropophilic blackflies were captured by both methodologies. A total of 7,367 (67.87%) blackflies belonging to seven species were captured by MosqTent® —Simulium incrustatum s.l (99.06%); S. guianense s.l (0.74%), S. oyapockense s.l (0.01%), S. exiguum (0.10%), S. metallicum (0.05%), S. ochraceum (0.03%) and S. minusculum s.l (0.01%). Moreover, 3,488 (32.14%) blackflies belonging to four species were captured by HLC—S. incrustatum s.l (98.33%); S. guianense s.l (1.38%), S. oyapockense s.l (0.26%) and S. metallicum (0.03%). The MosqTent® was more effective and efficient when compared to HLC. When comparing total blackflies captured/day, the MosqTent® was more efficient than HLC (p = 0.031) with a means of 799.4 blackflies/day versus 217.6 blackflies/day by HLC. The results demonstrated improved performance and high reliability of the MosqTent® compared to the traditional HLC method.
Highlights
Blackflies constitute a public health problem in Brazil, since they transmit Onchocerca volvulus and Mansonella ozzardi
No significant difference was observed between the amounts of captured insects per day when comparing both methodologies at Thirei (Mann-Whitney, ns p = 0.2222, U = 6, standard error of mean [MosqTent1] = 81.3; standard error of mean [Human Landing Catch (HLC)] = 139.4) (Fig 3b)
We emphasize that the results of this study demonstrate that MosqTent1 capture methodology will not interfere in the capture of 6,000 specimens of S. guianense required for the Onchocerciasis monitoring in the endemic area, according to WHO guidelines
Summary
Blackflies constitute a public health problem in Brazil, since they transmit Onchocerca volvulus and Mansonella ozzardi. Anthropophilic species are extremely voracious and have a marked presence in riverside, wild and rural regions. The afflicted human populations are commonly attacked by clouds of blackflies, and their painful bites, as well as pathogen-transmitting ability, can cause severe immunological reactions, such as intense pruritus, irritation and fever. Onchocerciasis, commonly known as ‘river blindness’, has four Simulium species as vectors in Brazil—S. guianense, S. incrustatum, S. oyapockense and S. exiguum[1]. Amongst other anthropophilic species found in the endemic area, S. guianense is the one with the best competency to be the primary vector of onchocerciasis, being a very common species with high anthropophilic habits. S. incrustatum, S. oyapockense and S. exiguum are considered secondary vectors
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