The impact of transfluthrin on the spatial repellency of the primary malaria mosquito vectors in Vietnam: Anopheles dirus and Anopheles minimus

Abstract Background The complexity of mosquito-borne diseases poses a major challenge to global health efforts to mitigate their impact on people residing in sub-tropical and tropical regions, to travellers and deployed military personnel. To supplement drug- and vaccine-based disease control programmes, other strategies are urgently needed, including the direct control of disease vectors. Modern vector control research generally focuses on identifying novel active ingredients and/or innovative methods to reduce human-mosquito interactions. These efforts include the evaluation of spatial repellents, which are compounds capable of altering mosquito feeding behaviour without direct contact with the chemical source. Methods This project examined the impact of airborne transfluthrin from impregnated textile materials on two important malaria vectors, Anopheles dirus and Anopheles minimus. Repellency was measured by movement within taxis cages within a semi-field environment at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, Vietnam. Knockdown and mortality were measured in adult mosquito bioassay cages. Metered-volume air samples were collected at a sub-set of points in the mosquito exposure trial. Results Significant differences in knockdown/mortality were observed along a gradient from the exposure source with higher rates of knockdown/mortality at 2 m and 4 m when compared with the furthest distance (16 m). Knockdown/mortality was also greater at floor level and 1.5 m when compared to 3 m above the floor. Repellency was not significantly different except when comparing 2 m and 16 m taxis cages. Importantly, the two species reacted differently to transfluthrin, with An. minimus being more susceptible to knockdown and mortality. The measured concentrations of airborne transfluthrin ranged from below the limit of detection to 1.32 ng/L, however there were a limited number of evaluable samples complicating interpretation of these results. Conclusions This study, measuring repellency, knockdown and mortality in two malaria vectors in Vietnam demonstrates that both species are sensitive to airborne transfluthrin. The differences in magnitude of response between the two species requires further study before use in large-scale vector control programmes to delineate how spatial repellency would impact the development of insecticide resistance and the disruption of biting behaviour.

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Time of Test Periods Influence the Behavioral Responses of Anopheles minimus and Anopheles dirus (Diptera: Culicidae) to DEET

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12100867 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 867

Author(s):

Rungarun Tisgratog ◽

Chutipong Sukkanon ◽

Victor Arief Sugiharto ◽

Michael J. Bangs ◽

Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap

Keyword(s):

Mosquito Species ◽

Behavioral Responses ◽

Test System ◽

Malaria Vectors ◽

Anopheles Dirus ◽

Anopheles Species ◽

Anopheles Minimus ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Escape Responses ◽

The Impact

Information on factors influencing the behavioral responses of mosquitoes to repellents is lacking and poorly understood, especially in the Anopheles species, night-biting mosquitoes. Our goal was to investigate the impact of different time periods on circadian activity and behavioral responses of two malaria vectors, Anopheles minimus and An. dirus, to 5% DEET using an excito-repellency test system. Each mosquito species was exposed to the repellent during the daytime (06.00–18.00) and nighttime (18.00–06.00), and time of observation was further divided into four 3-h intervals. Significant escape responses were observed between daytime and nighttime for An. minimus in both noncontact and contact tests. An. dirus showed statistical differences in contact irritancy escape response, whereas no significant difference was found in noncontact repellency tests. Both mosquito species showed more significantly higher escape responses when exposed to DEET during the afternoon and late in the night. This finding indicates that the time of testing may affect the behavioral responses of mosquitoes to repellents, especially in An. minimus and An. dirus. A better understanding of nocturnally active mosquito behavioral responses spanning from dusk to dawn would assist in optimizing product development, screening, and effective evaluation.

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Quantifying geographic accessibility to improve efficiency of entomological monitoring

10.1101/779561 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Joshua Longbottom ◽

Ana Krause ◽

Stephen J. Torr ◽

Michelle C. Stanton

Keyword(s):

Vector Control ◽

Large Scale ◽

Neglected Tropical Disease ◽

Geographic Accessibility ◽

Vector Abundance ◽

Successful Program ◽

Longitudinal Data Collection ◽

Control Programmes ◽

The Impact ◽

Sampling Approach

AbstractBackgroundVector-borne diseases are important causes of mortality and morbidity in humans and livestock, particularly for poorer communities and countries in the tropics. Large-scale programs against these diseases, for example malaria, dengue and African trypanosomiasis, include vector control, and assessing the impact of this intervention requires frequent and extensive monitoring of disease vector abundance. Such monitoring can be expensive, especially in the later stages of a successful program where numbers of vectors and cases are low.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe developed a system that allows the identification of monitoring sites where pre-intervention densities of vectors are predicted to be high, and travel cost to sites is low, highlighting the most efficient locations for longitudinal monitoring. Using remotely sensed imagery and an image classification algorithm, we mapped landscape resistance associated with on- and off-road travel for every gridded location (3m and 0.5m grid cells) within Koboko district, Uganda. We combine the accessibility surface with pre-existing estimates of tsetse abundance and propose a stratified sampling approach to determine the most efficient locations for longitudinal data collection. Our modelled predictions were validated against empirical measurements of travel-time and existing maps of road networks. We applied this approach in northern Uganda where a large-scale vector control program is being implemented to control human African trypanosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by trypanosomes transmitted by tsetse flies. Our accessibility surfaces indicate a high performance when compared to empirical data, with remote sensing identifying a further ~70% of roads than existing networks.Conclusions/SignificanceBy integrating such estimates with predictions of tsetse abundance, we propose a methodology to determine the optimal placement of sentinel monitoring sites for evaluating control programme efficacy, moving from a nuanced, ad-hoc approach incorporating intuition, knowledge of vector ecology and local knowledge of geographic accessibility, to a reproducible, quantifiable one.Author SummaryAssessing the impact of vector control programmes requires longitudinal measurements of the abundance of insect vectors within intervention areas. Such monitoring can be expensive, especially in the later stages of a successful program where numbers of vectors and cases of disease are low. Efficient monitoring involves a prior selection of monitoring sites that are easy to reach and produce rich information on vector abundance. Here, we used image classification and cost-distance algorithms to produce estimates of accessibility within Koboko district, Uganda, where vector control is contributing to the elimination of sleeping sickness, a neglected tropical disease (NTD). We combine an accessibility surface with pre-existing estimates of tsetse abundance and propose a stratified sampling approach to determine locations which are associated with low cost (lowest travel time) and potential for longitudinal data collection (high pre-intervention abundance). Our method could be adapted for use in the planning and monitoring of tsetse- and other vector-control programmes. By providing methods to ensure that vector control programmes operate at maximum efficiency, we can ensure that the limited funding associated with some of these NTDs has the largest impact.

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Bionomics of Anopheles Arabiensis from Mamfene in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa): An Area of High Malaria Transmission in the Province

10.21203/rs.3.rs-52165/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rajendra Maharaj ◽

Vishan Lakan ◽

Kiash Maharaj

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Vector Control ◽

Anopheles Arabiensis ◽

Mosquito Control ◽

Sex Ratios ◽

Adult Mosquito ◽

Mosquito Vector ◽

Larval Control ◽

Kwazulu Natal ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: Although great strides have been made in controlling malaria, the disease is of significant public health importance. Historically, efforts to control the vector has concentrated on adult vector control targeting the female Anopheles mosquitoes. As there is now a focus on eliminating residual malaria from KwaZulu-Natal, new strategies are being investigated to increase the impact of malaria elimination strategies. Greater attention is now being given to larval control, as a complementary measure to indoor residual spraying. However, there is a large gap in knowledge of the bionomics of the larval stages of this mosquito vector of malaria in South Africa. In order to focus on both larval and adult mosquito control methods, larval development and the reproductive stages of the vector were investigated since these variables influences our ability to impact mosquito populations through larval control. This study was therefore conducted to determine the peak eruption times and the emergent sex ratios, as well as the peak egg oviposition time in order to attack the mosquito when it is at its most vulnerable and when control interventions will have the most impact.Results: Oviposition studies showed two peaks corresponding with late evening and again just before dawn. Most eggs were also laid in the first half of the night (18h00 – midnight). Most mosquitoes erupted just after sunset and the sex ratios showed that twice as many females as males emerged. Females readily took a bloodmeal after oviposition or just after erupting. Hatch rate to viable first instar larvae was 74.5%.Conclusions: The results of this study have provided information as to when interventions would be most effective in controlling mosquito populations and have provided information that highlights the value of larval control as a complementary measure to adult mosquito control. The most vulnerable stages of the female Anopheles arabiensis are when they have just emerged or when they have just oviposited. Vector control strategies should be designed to target these vulnerable stages at the breeding sites in order to have maximum impact.

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Optimising systemic insecticide use to improve malaria control

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001776 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. e001776 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hannah R Meredith ◽

Luis Furuya-Kanamori ◽

Laith Yakob

Keyword(s):

Vector Control ◽

Malaria Transmission ◽

Drug Administration ◽

Mass Drug Administration ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Malaria Vectors ◽

Systemic Insecticide ◽

Blood Concentrations ◽

Systemic Insecticides ◽

The Impact

BackgroundLong-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual sprays have significantly reduced the burden of malaria. However, several hurdles remain before elimination can be achieved: mosquito vectors have developed resistance to public health insecticides, including pyrethroids, and have altered their biting behaviour to avoid these indoor control tools. Systemic insecticides, drugs applied directly to blood hosts to kill mosquitoes that take a blood meal, offer a promising vector control option. To date, most studies focus on repurposing ivermectin, a drug used extensively to treat river blindness. There is concern that overdependence on a single drug will inevitably repeat past experiences with the rapid spread of pyrethroid resistance in malaria vectors. Diversifying the arsenal of systemic insecticides used for mass drug administration would improve this strategy’s sustainability.MethodsHere, a review was conducted to identify systemic insecticide candidates and consolidate their pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties. The impact of alternative integrated vector control options and different dosing regimens on malaria transmission reduction are illustrated through mathematical model simulation.ResultsThe review identified drugs from four classes commonly used in livestock and companion animals: avermectins, milbemycins, isoxazolines and spinosyns. Simulations predicted that isoxazolines and spinosyns are promising candidates for mass drug administration, as they were predicted to need less frequent application than avermectins and milbemycins to maintain mosquitocidal blood concentrations.ConclusionsThese findings will provide a guide for investigating and applying different systemic insecticides to achieve more effective and sustainable control of malaria transmission.

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Reduced human-biting preferences of the African malaria vectors Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae in an urban context: controlled, competitive host-preference experiments in Tanzania

10.21203/rs.3.rs-64353/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yeromin P Mlacha ◽

Prosper P. Chaki ◽

Athuman Muhili ◽

Dennis J. Massue ◽

Marcel Tanner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vector Control ◽

Anopheles Gambiae ◽

Anopheles Arabiensis ◽

Host Preference ◽

Urban Setting ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Rural Setting ◽

Malaria Vectors ◽

Baited Traps ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundHost preference is a critical determinant of human exposure to vector-borne infections and the impact of vector control interventions. Widespread use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) across sub-Saharan Africa, which protect humans against mosquitoes, may select for altered host preference traits of malaria vectors over the long term. Here, the host preferences of Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) were experimentally assessed in the field, using direct host-preference assays in two distinct ecological settings in Tanzania.MethodsEight Ifakara Tent Trap (ITT), four baited with humans and four with bovine calves, were simultaneously used to catch malaria vectors in open field sites in urban and rural Tanzania. The numbers of mosquitoes collected in human-baited traps versus calf-baited traps were used to estimate human feeding preference for each site's vector species. ResultsThe estimated proportion [95% confidence interval (CI)] of mosquitoes attacking humans rather than cattle was 0.60 [0.40, 0.77] for An. arabiensis in the rural setting and 0.61 [0.32, 0.85] for An. gambiae s.s. in the urban setting, indicating no preference for either host in both cases (P=0.32 and 0.46, respectively) and no difference in preference between the two (Odds Ratio (OR) [95%] = 0.95 [0.30, 3.01], P=0.924). However, only a quarter of An. arabiensis in the urban setting attacked humans (0.25 [0.09, 0.53]), indicating a preference for cattle that approached significance (P=0.08). Indeed, urban An. arabiensis were less likely to attack humans rather than cattle when compared to the same species in the rural setting (OR [95%] = 0.21 [0.05, 0.91], P =0.037). ConclusionUrban An. arabiensis had a stronger preference for cattle than the rural population and urban An. gambiae s.s. showed no clear preference for either humans or cattle. In the urban setting, both species exhibited stronger tendencies to attack cattle than previous studies of the same species in rural contexts. Cattle keeping may, therefore, particularly limit the impact of human-targeted vector control interventions in Dar es Salaam and perhaps in other African towns and cities.

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Monitoring of Insecticide Resistance in Anopheles culicifacies in Twelve Districts of Madhya Pradesh, Central India (2017–2019)

Journal of Tropical Medicine ◽

10.1155/2022/4404027 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 2022 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Ashok K. Mishra ◽

Praveen K Bharti ◽

Gyan Chand ◽

Aparup Das ◽

Himanshu Jayswar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insecticide Resistance ◽

Vector Control ◽

Indoor Residual Spraying ◽

Central India ◽

Control Programme ◽

Madhya Pradesh ◽

Control Measures ◽

Malaria Vectors ◽

Malaria Vector Control ◽

The Impact

Background. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are malaria vector control measures used in India, but the development of insecticide resistance poses major impediments for effective vector control strategies. As per the guidelines of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), the study was conducted in 12 districts of Madhya Pradesh to generate data on insecticide resistance in malaria vectors. Methods. The susceptibility tests were conducted on adult An. culicifacies as per the WHO standard technique with wild-caught mosquitoes. The blood-fed female mosquitoes were exposed in 3 to 4 replicates on each occasion to the impregnated papers with specified discriminating dosages of the insecticides (DDT: 4%, malathion: 5%, deltamethrin: 0.05%, and alphacypermethrin: 0.05%), for one hour, and mortality was recorded after 24-hour holding. Results. An. culicifacies was found resistant to DDT 4% in all the 12 districts and malathion in 11 districts. The resistance to alphacypermethrin was also observed in two districts, and possible resistance was found to alphacypermethrin in seven districts and to deltamethrin in eight districts, while the vector was found susceptible to both deltamethrin and alphacypermethrin in only 3 districts. Conclusion. An. culicifacies is resistant to DDT and malathion and has emerging resistance to pyrethroids, alphacypermethrin, and deltamethrin. Therefore, regular monitoring of insecticide susceptibility in malaria vectors is needed for implementing effective vector management strategies. However, studies to verify the impact of IRS with good coverage on the transmission of disease are required before deciding on the change of insecticide in conjunction with epidemiological data.

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Molecular Identification of Anopheles minimus sensu lato and Anopheles dirus sensu lato (Diptera: Culicidae) from Kampong Spoe Province, Cambodia

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1028.1.3 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 1028 (1) ◽

pp. 37 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

YAJUN MA ◽

SOK VANNE ◽

SHIZHU LI ◽

PIN YANG

Keyword(s):

Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽

Malaria Vectors ◽

Sequence Variant ◽

Sequence Variants ◽

Anopheles Dirus ◽

Anopheles Minimus ◽

The Third ◽

Species Complexes ◽

Second Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽

First Time

Anopheles dirus and An. minimus are primary malaria vectors in Cambodia. Both are species complexes and can be confused on the basis of adult morphology. The second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) and the third domain (D3) in 28S of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of An. minimus sensu lato and An. dirus s. l. were sequenced and analyzed. Three species (An. minimus A, An. sawadwongporni, and An. pampanai) and three sequence variants (MYJ-1, MYJ-2 and MYJ-3) were identified in An. minimus s. l. Two species (An. dirus A, An. pampanai) and one sequence variant (MYJ-1) were identified in An. dirus s. l. Anopheles sawadwongporni is recorded for the first time in Cambodia.

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Reduced human-biting preferences of the African malaria vectors Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae in an urban context: controlled, competitive host-preference experiments in Tanzania

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/s12936-020-03495-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yeromin P. Mlacha ◽

Prosper P. Chaki ◽

Athuman Muhili ◽

Dennis J. Massue ◽

Marcel Tanner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vector Control ◽

Anopheles Gambiae ◽

Anopheles Arabiensis ◽

Host Preference ◽

Urban Setting ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Rural Setting ◽

Malaria Vectors ◽

Baited Traps ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Host preference is a critical determinant of human exposure to vector-borne infections and the impact of vector control interventions. Widespread use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) across sub-Saharan Africa, which protect humans against mosquitoes, may select for altered host preference traits of malaria vectors over the long term. Here, the host preferences of Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) were experimentally assessed in the field, using direct host-preference assays in two distinct ecological settings in Tanzania. Methods Eight Ifakara Tent Trap (ITT), four baited with humans and four with bovine calves, were simultaneously used to catch malaria vectors in open field sites in urban and rural Tanzania. The numbers of mosquitoes collected in human-baited traps versus calf-baited traps were used to estimate human feeding preference for each site's vector species. Results The estimated proportion [95% confidence interval (CI)] of mosquitoes attacking humans rather than cattle was 0.60 [0.40, 0.77] for An. arabiensis in the rural setting and 0.61 [0.32, 0.85] for An. gambiae s.s. in the urban setting, indicating no preference for either host in both cases (P = 0.32 and 0.46, respectively) and no difference in preference between the two (Odds Ratio (OR) [95%] = 0.95 [0.30, 3.01], P = 0.924). However, only a quarter of An. arabiensis in the urban setting attacked humans (0.25 [0.09, 0.53]), indicating a preference for cattle that approached significance (P = 0.08). Indeed, urban An. arabiensis were less likely to attack humans rather than cattle when compared to the same species in the rural setting (OR [95%] = 0.21 [0.05, 0.91], P = 0.037). Conclusion Urban An. arabiensis had a stronger preference for cattle than the rural population and urban An. gambiae s.s. showed no clear preference for either humans or cattle. In the urban setting, both species exhibited stronger tendencies to attack cattle than previous studies of the same species in rural contexts. Cattle keeping may, therefore, particularly limit the impact of human-targeted vector control interventions in Dar es Salaam and perhaps in other African towns and cities.

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Anopheles Bionomics in a Malaria Endemic Area of Southern Thailand

10.21203/rs.3.rs-407027/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Narenrit Wamaket ◽

Oranicha Khamprapa ◽

Sittinont Chainarin ◽

Panisa Thamsawet ◽

Ubolrat Ninsaeng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Identification ◽

Malaria Vectors ◽

Power Calculation ◽

Chi Square ◽

Anopheles Dirus ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Southern Thailand ◽

Human Landing ◽

Greater Mekong Subregion ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: Ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) could accelerate malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion. This study was performed to characterize the bionomics of Anopheles in Surat Thani province, Thailand.Methods: Mosquitoes were collected via human landing collections, February - October of 2019. Anopheles were morphologically identified to species. Primary Anopheles malaria vectors were dissected to assess parity status and a subset evaluated for molecular identification and Plasmodium detection.Results: A total of 17,348 mosquitoes were collected. Of 5,777 Anopheles mosquitoes, 15 species were identified morphologically. The most abundant Anopheles were Anopheles minimus s.l. (87.87%, n = 5,035), Anopheles dirus s.l. (7.05%, n = 407), and Anopheles barbirostris s.l. (2.86%, n = 165). Molecular identification confirmed that of An. minimus s.l., 99.80% were An. minimus s.s. (n=484) and 0.2% An. aconitus (n = 1), of An. dirus s.l., 100% were An. baimaii (n = 348), and of An. maculatus s.l., 93.62% were An. maculatus s.s. (n = 44) and 6.38% An. sawadwongporni (n = 3). No Anopheles were Plasmodium positive (n = 879). An average of 11.46 Anopheles were captured per collector per night. There were differences between species in hour of collection (Kruskal-Wallis = 80.89, P < 0.0001, n = 5,666), with more An. barbirostris s.l. and An. maculatus s.l. caught earlier compared to An. minimus s.l. (P = 0.0001, P < 0.0001, respectively) and An. dirus s.l. (P = 0.0082, P < 0.001, respectively). The proportion of parous An. minimus s.l. captured by hour increased throughout the night (Wald Chi-square = 17.31, P=0.000, odds ratio = 1.0535 [1.0279 – 1.0796] 95% CI (n = 3,400). Overall, An. minimus s.l. parity was 67.68% (2,375/3,509) with an intra cluster correlation of 0.0378. A power calculation determined that an An. minimus s.l. parity reduction treatment effect size = 34%, with four clusters per treatment arm, a minimum of 300 mosquitoes dissected per cluster at an α= 0.05 will provide 82% power to detect a significant difference following ivermectin MDA. Conclusions: The study area in Surat Thani province is an ideal location to evaluate the impact of ivermectin MDA on An. minimus parity.

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Impact of key assumptions about the population biology of soil-transmitted helminths on the sustainable control of morbidity

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciab195 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carolin Vegvari ◽

Federica Giardina ◽

Veronica Malizia ◽

Sake J de Vlas ◽

Luc E Coffeng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Biology ◽

Limit Of Detection ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Average Intensity ◽

Considerable Uncertainty ◽

Soil Transmitted Helminths ◽

Control Programmes ◽

The One ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

Abstract The design and evaluation of control programmes for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) is based on surveillance data recording measurements of egg counts in the stool of infected individuals which underpin estimates of the prevalence and average intensity of infection. There is considerable uncertainty around these measurements and their interpretation. The uncertainty is composed of several sources of measurement error and the limit of detection of faecal smear tests on the one hand, and key assumptions on STH biology on the other hand, including assumptions on the aggregation of worms within hosts and on the impact of density-dependent influences on worm reproduction. Using two independently developed models of STH transmission we show how different aspects of STH biology and human behaviour impact on STH surveillance and control programmes and how accounting for uncertainty can help to develop optimal and sustainable control strategies to meet the WHO morbidity target for STHs.

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