title: Identification of human semiochemicals attractive to the major vectors of onchocerciasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Entomological indicators are considered key metrics to document the interruption of transmission of Onchocerca volvulus, the etiological agent of human onchocerciasis. Human landing collection is the standard employed for collection of the vectors for this parasite. Recent studies reported the development of traps that have the potential for replacing humans for surveillance of O. volvulus in the vector population. However, the key chemical components of human odor that are attractive to vector black flies have not been identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human sweat compounds were analyzed using GC-MS analysis and compounds common to three individuals identified. These common compounds, with others previously identified as attractive to other hematophagous arthropods were evaluated for their ability to stimulate and attract the major onchocerciasis vectors in Africa (Simulium damnosum sensu lato) and Latin America (Simulium ochraceum s. l.) using electroantennography and a Y tube binary choice assay. Medium chain length carboxylic acids and aldehydes were neurostimulatory for S. damnosum s.l. while S. ochraceum s.l. was stimulated by short chain aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes. Both species were attracted to ammonium bicarbonate and acetophenone. The compounds were shown to be attractive to the relevant vector species in field studies, when incorporated into a formulation that permitted a continuous release of the compound over time and used in concert with previously developed trap platforms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The identification of compounds attractive to the major vectors of O. volvulus will permit the development of optimized traps. Such traps may replace the use of human vector collectors for monitoring the effectiveness of onchocerciasis elimination programs and could find use as a contributing component in an integrated vector control/drug program aimed at eliminating river blindness in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Discovery and Innovation, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Global Health Infectious Disease Research Program, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nathan D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Burkett-Cadena
authors.affiliation: Global Health Infectious Disease Research Program, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Tommy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: McGaha
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Perez
authors.affiliation: African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Laurent D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Toé
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Monsuru A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Adeleke
authors.affiliation: African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Moussa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanfo
authors.affiliation: Programme National de lutte contre l'onchocercose, Direction de la lute contre la maladie, Ministère de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Traore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soungalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Katholi
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Noblet
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fadamiro
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, México.
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Torres-Estrada
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
authors.forename: Mario C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Salinas-Carmona
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Discovery and Innovation, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Global Health Infectious Disease Research Program, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Unnasch
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Eddie W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Cupp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000635:transmission*; D049049:Pheromones, Human / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012843:Simuliidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D049049:Pheromones, Human