{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T01:20:54Z","timestamp":1792027254365,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775174400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000865","name":"Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["INV-047737"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["INV-047737"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000865","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosntds.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS Negl Trop Dis"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The Edo\u2013Ondo border remains a hotspot for onchocerciasis transmission and has been designated as a special intervention zone by Nigeria\u2019s National Onchocerciasis Elimination Committee because of its persistent transmission and high blackfly biting rates. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the \u201cslash-and-clear\u201d vector control strategy and annual ivermectin distribution to interrupt transmission of\n                      <jats:italic>Onchocerca volvulus<\/jats:italic>\n                      in the area.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      This study was implemented in two phases. Phase 1 (July\u2013August 2023) involved slash-and-clear in four communities along the Ose River and its tributaries, while four others served as controls. Baseline biting rates were recorded for eight days, after which interventions were implemented in designated sites and fly collections continued for 29 days. Phase 2 (September 2023\u2013June 2025) annual slash-and-clear was extended to 76 communities, including the original eight, where fly populations were continuously monitored. All collected blackflies were screened for\n                      <jats:italic>O. volvulus<\/jats:italic>\n                      infection using Ov ND5 qPCR pool screening.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      In Phase 1, biting rates in intervention communities decreased significantly by 51.1\u201391.9% (p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05) along tributaries but increased in communities located directly on the Ose River or within 5 km. No significant changes were observed at the control sites. In Phase 2, sustained slash-and-clear across 76 communities resulted in significant reductions in blackfly densities, ranging from 39.7%\u201394.5%. Analysis of the flies showed infectivity for Ov ND5 genes in designated communities in the main Ose River and its tributaries indicating the presence of reservoirs of human\n                      <jats:italic>Onchocerca volvulus<\/jats:italic>\n                      microfilariae of onchocerciasis in the area.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The results of this study demonstrate the possibility of significant reduction in\n                      <jats:italic>Simulium damnosum<\/jats:italic>\n                      complex biting rates with sustained slash-and-clear activity in the region (most especially the tributaries). Therefore, we recommend further studies to determine drivers of transmission aside from flies to fast-track the elimination of onchocerciasis in the area.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0014151","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T17:43:12Z","timestamp":1775238192000},"page":"e0014151","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Investigating impact of slash and clear vector control strategy on blackfly population and onchocerciasis transmission in a hotspot in 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