title: Optimization of the Esperanza window trap for the collection of the African onchocerciasis vector Simulium damnosum sensu lato.
abstract: A simple inexpensive trap (Esperanza window trap) was shown recently to collect significant numbers of Simulium ochraceum sensu lato, a major vector of Onchocerca volvulus in Mesoamerica. Here, we report studies optimizing this trap for the collection of Simulium damnosum s.l., the major vector of O. volvulus in Africa. A shortened, blue and black striped version of the Esperanza window trap, when baited with a combination of CO2 and worn trousers, rivalled human landing collections in the number of S. damnosum s.l. females collected. Traps baited with a commercially available human skin lure and CO2 resulted in collections that were not significantly different than those obtained from traps baited with worn trousers and CO2. This suggests that the Esperanza window trap may offer a replacement for human landing collections for monitoring onchocerciasis transmission in Africa.
authors.affiliation: African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, World Health Organization, 1473 Avenue Naba Zombre, 01 BP 549, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Laurent D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Toé
authors.affiliation: Programme National de Lutte contre l'Onchocercose, Ministère de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Lassane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koala
authors.affiliation: Global Health Infectious Disease Research Program, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 304, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Burkett-Cadena
authors.affiliation: Programme National de Lutte contre l'Onchocercose, Ministère de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Bizini M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.affiliation: African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, World Health Organization, 1473 Avenue Naba Zombre, 01 BP 549, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Moussa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanfo
authors.affiliation: Programme National de Lutte contre l'Onchocercose, Ministère de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Sié Roger
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kambiré
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: Eddie W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Cupp
authors.affiliation: Programme National de Lutte contre l'Onchocercose, Ministère de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Soungalo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.affiliation: African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, World Health Organization, 1473 Avenue Naba Zombre, 01 BP 549, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yameogo
authors.affiliation: African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, World Health Organization, 1473 Avenue Naba Zombre, 01 BP 549, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boakye
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Blvd. del Maestro esquina Elías Piña S/N, Colonia Narciso Mendoza, 88710 Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Francisco I. Madero y Dr. Eduardo Aguirre Pequeño, Colonia Mitras Centro, 64460 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Global Health Infectious Disease Research Program, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 304, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Electronic address: tunnasch@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Unnasch
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D004772:Entomology / Q000379:methods*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000635:transmission; D012843:Simuliidae / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Black fly trap; Blackfly; Onchocerciasis; Simulium damnosum s.l.; Vector collector