Notes on distribution of Simulium damnosum s. l. along Atbara River in Galabat sub-focus, eastern Sudan

The River Nile is the longest river in the world [1]. The White Nile contributes a small amount to the annual flow discharge of the River Nile, but flows constantly throughout the year. The Blue Nile and its tributaries contribute by high amount of annual flow but on a highly seasonal basis [1, 2]. Although the River Nile is the main source of water in Sudan, the River Atbara and its tributaries are of most importance as seasonal water streams, creating distinct environment for local communities in eastern states [1].

A recent construction began on the Upper Atbara and Setit Dam complex [1, 2]. This is a twin dam consisting of Rumela Dam on the Upper Atbara River and Burdana Dam on the Setit River in eastern Sudan. The dams are located about 20 km upstream from the junction of the Atbara and Setit rivers and about 80 km to the south of Khashm El-Girba Dam [1]. The project began in 2010 and was finished in beginning of 2015. The two connected dams have a joined reservoir. Their total length is 13 km [3].

Black flies constitute a serious public health problem as vectors of human onchocerciasis and as a biting nuisance in many rural parts of the world [4, 5]. They breed in rivers in a constant flow of fast-moving water where they attach to rocks and plants and filter out suspended particles [5, 6]. Some human structures such as concrete dams and concrete-lined stream channels provide excellent developmental sites for larvae and pupae of black fly species. This may result in adverse environmental and health impacts, which may extend to other countries, as in the case of the River Nile [5, 7, 8].

In Sudan, human onchocerciasis is currently known in four main foci: Abu-Hamed in northern Sudan, Galabat in eastern Sudan, Radom in southern Darfur in the southwest, and Khor Yabus in Blue Nile region of the southeast [5]. Few studies have addressed the impact of dams on transmission dynamics of onchocerciasis in African countries [4, 9‐12]. It has been suggested that onchocerciasis is the major environmental health problem around other dams in Africa [5, 9, 13]. In Sudan, few studies have highlighted the impact of dams on transmission dynamics of onchocerciasis. Biting activity of black flies was reported near Meridi and Roseires Dams, indicating that dam construction may affect the dynamics and extent of onchocerciasis transmission [14, 15]. Additionally, larvae of S. damnsosum s.l. were found in the spillways of Khashm El-Girba Dam after its construction [16]. Currently, Merowe Dam in Abu-Hamed focus has effectively shrunken the focus to a little over half of its original size and eliminated black fly breeding sites west to the town of Abu-Hamed [5].

The Galabat sub-focus is located along the banks of Atbara River and extends to the Ethiopian land in the Metema sub-focus [17, 18]. It has been recommended that any vector control activities based in this area would be operated by the Sudanese and Ethiopian governments [17]. Galabat started full continuous annual community- directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) in 2007. The prevalence of microfilariae was determined in a previous survey as 63.4% associated with a remarkable degree of pruritus and onchodermatitis [19]. The corresponding black fly infectivity rate in Galabat was 6.9/10,000 flies (95% CI = 1.1–16.4) [18]. The man-biting activity of S. damnosum increased in September–December, then decreased in February–June. The highest vector density and monthly biting rates (MBR) were recorded in September 2010 (N = 1163 flies, MBR = 6978 bites/person/month), whereas none were recorded from April to June. The hourly-based distribution of black flies showed a bimodal pattern with two peaks (07:00–10:00) and (14:00–18:00) in the Galabat sub-focus [20].

Aquatic stages of Simulium black flies were collected from 40 breeding sites in the Galabat sub-focus. Details of locations and abundance of breeding sites are described in Additional file 1. Collected samples revealed three species: S. damnosum s.l. and two zoophilic species (S. griseicolle and S. adersi). Immature stages of the zoophilic species were predominantly encountered downstream of Atbara River, whereas, the S. damnosum s.l. was collected more from upstream of Atbara River where the fast current of water with many rapids was clearly notable.

Before the construction of the dam complex, the first breeding site for onchocerciasis vectors was found in Balashora site near the Ethiopian border [APOC and NPPB: Annual report of onchocerciasis in Galabat sub-focus/unpublished], and the last breeding site was in Al Bahkar site in north of the focus (Fig. 1). After the construction of the dam complex in 2015, 17 breeding sites located from the dam complex up to Um Gazaz site were totally flooded by water of the dam complex’s lake, covering an area of more than 100 km² (Fig. 1). The 17 flooded sites were previously known as breeding sites of onchocerciasis vectors (Additional file 1). Therefore, the first breeding site was found near Wad Arood site (Fig. 1).

Construction of dams has adverse effects on the physical and biological environment [5, 9, 25]. In this study, aquatic stages of Simulium black flies were collected from 40 breeding sites during 2009 and 2013. Clearly, the construction of the Upper Atbara and Setit complex dam in 2015 has reduced the breeding sites of the vectors, as 17 previous breeding sites were covered by flooded water from the dam complex’s lake. This resulted in shrinking of the Galabat sub-focus size.

The findings of this study were consistent with previous studies conducted in Ghana [9] and Sudan [5], in which the breeding sites of black flies were reduced due to construction of dams. The chance of disease elimination in the Galabat sub-focus increased when the upper north limit of the sub-focus became a lake.

The identified aquatic stages were revealed to be anthropophilic species (S. damnosum s.l.) and two zoophilic species (S. griseicolle, and S. adersi). They shared same breeding sites, comprised of rocks and vegetation in the Atbara River, but they differed in abundance and distribution alongside the river. Most of S. damnosum s.l. were found upstream of the dam complex (towards the Ethiopian border) where the speed of water was very high and many rapids were found. S. griseicolle and S. adersi predominated downstream of the dam complex where the water current was low. This observation was mentioned early in previous studies [17, 26, 27].

The presence of high numbers of aquatic stages of S. damnosum s.l. at Balashora site, adjacent to the Ethiopian border, may support the idea of considering the Galabat sub-focus in Sudan and the Metema sub-focus in Ethiopia as one transmission zone. This consideration was supported previously by Raybould and White [26] who suggested control measures to be taken by the governments of Sudan and Ethiopia.

The nearest Sudanese focus to the Galabat sub-focus is more than 600 km at “Khor Yabus,” and the chance for new infection or recrudescence will be low if the disease is eliminated from Galabat. This is similar to the isolation of the Abu-Hamed focus after Merowe Dam was built in 2009 [5]. Conscientious monitoring of breeding sites in front of the dam complex is imperative. An agreement between Sudan and Ethiopia is required to eliminate the disease from the one transmission zone in the area.

Construction of the Upper Atbara and Setit Dam complex and its artificial lake had changed the physical, biological, and socio-economic environment of the affected breeding sites in the Galabat sub-focus. The dam complex has produced a positive effect by reducing the breeding sites of black flies in the area. Agreement on an action plan for an effective disease control/elimination program must be achieved between Sudan and Ethiopia.