Abomey-Calavi
Mon - Fri : 09.00 AM - 05.00 PM
+229 01 47 38 35 54

Entomology Unit

Our Mission

Unit Commitment

"To produce knowledge to understand parasite-vector interactions, bio-ecology and vector resistance, in order to design vector control strategies integrating sustainable biological approaches."

Research Domains
Vector control against vector-borne diseases

Key Themes

  • Parasite-vector interactions
  • Bio-ecology and vector resistance
  • Design and evaluation of vector control tools
  • Biological control of vectors
Key Personnel & Staff

Our Team of Experts

Armel DJENONTIN
Armel DJENONTIN

Head of Entomology Unit

Full Professor
20 years
Aziz BOURAÏMA
Aziz BOURAÏMA

Researcher

PhD
15 years
Yao HOUESSOU
Yao HOUESSOU

Researcher

PhD
5 years
Afia AÏMIHOUE
Afia AÏMIHOUE

PhD Student

MSc
12 years
Christophe SOARES
Christophe SOARES

PhD Student

MSc
10 years
Emerson AHOUANDJO

Technician

MSc
7 years
Spéro GNAMOU

Technician

Bachelor
1 year
Research Activities

Projects & Partners

Ongoing Projects

LMI CONS_HELM

International Mixed Laboratory on the Consequences of Helminths on population health. Mobilizing researchers from multiple institutions around helminth infections and their consequences on development in the South.

Period: 2016-2026
Funding: IRD, France
Partnership
Project Site

Soil Epidemic Project

Role of environmental surveillance in monitoring the impact of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Evaluating the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) from soil for disease surveillance in endemic areas.

Period: 2021-2026
Funding: NIH (USA) in partnership with UC Berkeley, University of Washington, and IRCB.
Partnership
Project Site

HYGESMO

Influence of Hybridization and genetic diversity of the pathogen on human morbidity in Schistosoma sp. infections.

Partnership

ACTS

Animal Contribution To Schistosomiasis transmission.

Partnership

AfZoonS

African Zoonotic Schistosomiasis: a paradigm shift.

Partnership

Completed Projects

DeWorm3

Community cluster-randomized trials to determine the feasibility of interrupting STH transmission through expanded population targeting and increased MDA frequency.

Period: 2017-2024
Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in partnership with University of Washington, NHM London, and LSTM.
Official Partner
Archives

PACT-Study

Participatory action research to determine factors influencing high therapeutic coverage of mass treatments in Bembéréké and Kandi communes, Benin.

Period: 2020-2021
Funding: DFID/TFGH/NTD-SC in partnership with University of Washington and IRD.
Official Partner
Archives

COVID-19 Impact Study

Evaluation of the COVID-19 period impact on the resumption of mass drug administration activities for NTDs in Benin.

Period: 2021
Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation / University of Washington.
Official Partner
Archives

RELACS

Anti-helminth Control Network and its Consequences on Population Health. Federating research teams across Mali, Ghana, Gabon, and Benin.

Period: 2014-2018
Funding: IRD, in partnership with MRTC Mali, CERMEL Gabon, and Noguchi Ghana.
Official Partner

JEA-IRD-PALUCO

Study on the co-infection between malaria and soil-transmitted helminths in So-Ava commune, Benin.

Period: 2012-2015
Funding: IRD, in partnership with University of Perpignan, France.
Official Partner

CORUS 6069

Epidemiology and ecology of schistosomiasis in Benin.

Period: 2008-2011
Funding: IRD, in partnership with University of Perpignan.
Official Partner
Strategic Partners

Collaborating for Excellence

Our Strategic Partners
Scientific Outreach

Major Publications

2026

Host genetic background influences the severity of disease in Schistosoma haematobium infections Boris.

Savassi SAE, Mahaman SDK, Biaou D, et al.

Parasite 33, 14. Read Full Paper
African zoonotic schistosomiasis: a paradigm shift.

Savassi B, Kincaid-Smith J, Courtin D, et al.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 381(1941). Read Full Paper

2025

Feasibility of interrupting the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths: the DeWorm3 trial.

Ajjampur SSR, Aruldas K, et al.

Lancet 406(10502):475-488. Read Full Paper
Global diversity of soil-transmitted helminths reveals population-biased genetic variation.

Papaiakovou M, Waeschenbach A, et al.

Nature Communications 16(1):6374. Read Full Paper

2024

Coverage of community-wide mass drug administration platforms for soil-transmitted helminths.

Means AR, Ásbjörnsdóttir KH, et al.

Infect Dis Poverty. 13(1):72. Read Full Paper

2023

Rapid ethnography and participatory techniques increase onchocerciasis MDA coverage in Benin.

Means AR, Sambiéni NE, et al.

Implement Sci Commun. 4(1):45. Read Full Paper

Access Full Publication Records

Find all our work published in renowned international journals via PubMed and ResearchGate.

PubMed ResearchGate

Institutional Reports

2023 Activity Report (2023) 2022 Activity Report (2022) 2021 Activity Report (2021) 2020 Activity Report (2020)

Collaborate With Us

We are always open to new research opportunities and partnerships in the field of Entomology and Tropical Medicine.

Contact Our Team

TIDRC UAC

A center of excellence in research and training on tropical infectious diseases.

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Contact Info

Campus of Abomey Calavi, Benin

rgma.office@cremituac.org

+229 01 47 38 35 54