A brand new study involving DNA barcoding to establish species precisely is anticipated to result in higher administration and control methods for blackflies, that are carriers of a worm inflicting river blindness.
The findings by a staff from the Diptera division of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) had been printed in Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, a number one worldwide analysis journal. The authors of the study are Arka Mukherjee, Oishik Kar, Koustav Mukherjee, Bindarika Mukherjee, Atanu Naskar, and Dhriti Banerjee.
River blindness is a parasitic illness attributable to the worm Onchocerca volvulus, transmitted by means of the bites of contaminated blackflies that breed close to fast-flowing rivers, resulting in pores and skin issues and potential blindness.
River blindness follows trachoma because the main explanation for infection-related blindness worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers river blindness or onchocerciasis among the many most uncared for tropical illnesses.
The ZSI staff collected blackflies or Simuliidae from eight distinct central Himalayan areas round Kalimpong and Darjeeling in West Bengal. These blackflies are regionally known as pipsa or potu.
A latest world stock lists 2,424 species of Simuliidae, of which a minimum of 27 species or species complexes are identified to transmit Onchocerca volvulus, the causative agent of the illness in people.
The researchers stated step one in defending individuals from this illness was to correctly establish and control the vector — the blackfly. Better identification of the illness provider was thus deemed important for improved therapy.
“Blackflies of the Simuliidae family are extremely small, barely noticeable to the naked eye. Before one realises it, the fly has already sucked blood and departed. Many species in this family look almost identical externally,” Dr. Banerjee, additionally the director of ZSI, stated.
“In scientific terms, distinguishing between two different species of Simuliidae flies based on external characteristics is quite difficult and time-consuming. Sometimes accurate species identification is not even possible,” she stated.
For this motive, the researchers used DNA from 4 species of blackflies — Simulium dentatum, Simulium digitatum, Simulium praelargum, and Simulium senile — as a way of identification.
“DNA barcoding methods were used to identify the species after preliminary segregation based on external characteristics,” stated Dr. Naskar, the officer in-charge and scientist at ZSI’s Diptera division.
The DNA was barcoded after assortment from the legs of the blackfly samples. Specific gene sequences had been used to differentiate the 4 species of blackflies as potential vectors.
“Although locals are more vulnerable to these flies, the risk of blindness remains a concern for visitors who frequent places such as Darjeeling and Kalimpong,” Dr. Banerjee stated.
Published – April 04, 2025 11:11 pm IST
