Project

Onchocerciasis transmission in West-Africa

Onchocerciasis (‘river blindness’) is a devastating disease that historically occurs throughout large areas of Africa, as well as some countries in Central America and the Middle East. Infection can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected blackfly that breeds near fast-flowing rivers. Infection leads to stigmatizing skin disease, and with prolonged infection, the disease can cause blindness. Disease is related with high socio-economic and disease burden. Onchocerciasis is a Neglected Tropical Disease, and is targeted for elimination by 2030 by the World Health Organization. The disease can be controlled and eliminated through the use of large-scale ivermectin drug administration among at-risk populations as well as (focal) vector control. This project analysis historical trends in infection and entomological indicators since the start of control interventions in West-Africa by the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (1974-2002) and assesses more recent evaluation survey results to identify areas where elimination has almost been achieved or where further interventions are required. This project is in close collaboration with the Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, the Ministries of Health in West-Africa, and the World Health Organization (WHO-ESPEN).

    • Bhattacharyya S, Vinkeles Melchers NVS, Siewe Fodjo JN, Vutha A, Coffeng LE, Logora MY, Colebunders R, Stolk WA. Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy in Maridi, South Sudan: Modelling and exploring the impact of control measures against river blindness. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 May 26;17(5):e0011320. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011320. PMID: 37235598; PMCID: PMC10249816.
    • Vinkeles Melchers NVS, Stolk WA, van Loon W, Pedrique B, Bakker R, Murdoch ME, de Vlas SJ, Coffeng LE. The burden of skin disease and eye disease due to onchocerciasis in countries formerly under the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control mandate for 1990, 2020, and 2030. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Jul 26;15(7):e0009604. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009604. PMID: 34310602; PMCID: PMC8312930.
    • Vinkeles Melchers NVS, Stolk WA, Murdoch ME, Pedrique B, Kloek M, Bakker R, de Vlas SJ, Coffeng LE. How does onchocerciasis-related skin and eye disease in Africa depend on cumulative exposure to infection and mass treatment? PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Jun 11;15(6):e0009489. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009489. PMID: 34115752; PMCID: PMC8221783.