%0 Journal Article
%T Onchocerciasis transmission in Ghana: the human blood index of sibling species of the Simulium damnosum complex
%A Anthony Tetteh-Kumah
%A Daniel A. Boakye
%A I£¿aki Tirados
%A J. Lee Crainey
%A Martin Walker
%A Mar¨ªa-Gloria Basa£¿ez
%A Michael D. Wilson
%A Mike Y. Osei-Atweneboana
%A Peter Winskill
%A Poppy H. L. Lamberton
%A Robert A. Cheke
%A Rory J. Post
%A Sampson Otoo
%J Archive of "Parasites & Vectors".
%D 2016
%R 10.1186/s13071-016-1703-2
%X Vector-biting behaviour is important for vector-borne disease (VBD) epidemiology. The proportion of blood meals taken on humans (the human blood index, HBI), is a component of the biting rate per vector on humans in VBD transmission models. Humans are the definitive host of Onchocerca volvulus, but the simuliid vectors feed on a range of animals and HBI is a key indicator of the potential for human onchocerciasis transmission. Ghana has a diversity of Simulium damnosum complex members, which are likely to vary in their HBIs, an important consideration for parameterization of onchocerciasis control and elimination models
%K Human blood index
%K Host choice
%K Simulium damnosum (sensu lato)
%K Host-seeking vectors
%K Ovipositing vectors
%K Onchocerca volvulus
%K Vector abundance
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4975878/