Population decline of Simulium woodi and reduced onchocerciasis transmission at Amani, Tanzania, in relation to deforestation.

To investigate an apparent decline of the onchocerciasis vector Simulium woodi, in the Simulium neavei group, weekly 12-hour biting catches on man were carried out for 13 months near Amani and compared with those obtained 22 years earlier. The results showed a marked fall in biting S. neavei s.l. females and supported earlier findings on the aquatic stages. The mean biting-catch in 1985/6 was only 13% of that in 1963/4 and comprised 91% S. woodi and 9% the more common, but largely zoophilic, Simulium nyasalandicum (Amani form). The infection rate of S. woodi with Onchocerca volvulus larvae had also fallen markedly from 17% to 3% of parous flies; no S. nyasalandicum females were infected. Recent onchocerciasis surveys indicate that reduced transmission has resulted in lower infection rates in man. Exposure by deforestation of the breeding sites of S. woodi in small shaded streams seems to have caused the simuliid's population decline. Reduced populations of S. neavei group vector species have been reported in other deforested parts of eastern Africa. Our long-term quantitative data on declining numbers of biting females without control measures, help to corroborate such reports. Control may no longer be necessary in some areas allowing a greater concentration of limited resources.