Identification of three members of the Simulium damnosum (Diptera Simuliidae) group in South Western Nigeria.

Identification of the specific Simuliium species at play in the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus is important because it helps to explain the epidemiology and clinical presentation of the disease and guides in monitoring of long term impact of ivermectin treatment on onchocerciasis transmission. The study therefore sought to use molecular markers for vector identification. A combination of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay and Restriction fragment Length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to identify members of Simulium damnosum complex in forest area of south western Nigeria. The results revealed the presence of three members of the Simulium damnosum complex: S. yahense, S. sirbanum and S. damnosum ss. S. yahense was the predominant and major vector in the study sites. This provides baseline data for future monitoring vector of human onchocerciasis in the area.