1
|
Clutter CH, Klarman MB, Cajusma Y, Cato ET, Sayeed A, Brinkley L, Jensen O, Baril C, De Rochars VMB, Azman AS, Long MT, Cummings D, Leung DT, Nelson EJ. A population-based serological survey of Vibrio cholerae antibody titers in Ouest Department, Haiti in the year prior to the 2022 cholera outbreak. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.02.06.23285537. [PMID: 36798289 PMCID: PMC9934795 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.06.23285537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
After three years with no confirmed cholera cases in Haiti, an outbreak of Vibrio cholerae O1 emerged in October 2022. Levels of pre-existing antibodies provide an estimate of prior immunologic exposure, reveal potentially relevant immune responses, and set a baseline for future serosurveillance. We analyzed dried blood spots collected in 2021 from a population-weighted representative cross-sectional serosurvey in two communes in the Ouest Department of Haiti. We found lower levels of circulating IgG and IgA antibodies against V. cholerae lipopolysaccharide (LPS, IgG and IgA p<0.0001) in those below 5 years of age compared to those five years and older. Among a subset of patients with higher titers of antibodies, we were unable to detect any functional (vibriocidal) antibodies. In conclusion, the lack of detectable functional antibodies, and age-discordant levels of V. cholerae LPS IgG, suggest that populations in Haiti may be highly susceptible to cholera disease, especially among young children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christy H. Clutter
- Division of Infectious Disease, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Division of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Molly B. Klarman
- University of Florida, Departments of Pediatrics and Environmental and Global Health, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Youseline Cajusma
- University of Florida, Departments of Pediatrics and Environmental and Global Health, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Emilie T. Cato
- University of Florida, Departments of Pediatrics and Environmental and Global Health, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Abu Sayeed
- University of Florida, Departments of Pediatrics and Environmental and Global Health, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Lindsey Brinkley
- University of Florida, Departments of Pediatrics and Environmental and Global Health, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Owen Jensen
- Division of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | - V. Madsen Beau De Rochars
- Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Andrew S. Azman
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Maureen T. Long
- Department of Comparative Diagnostic and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- University of Florida, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Derek Cummings
- Department of Comparative Diagnostic and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- University of Florida, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Daniel T. Leung
- Division of Infectious Disease, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Division of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Eric J. Nelson
- Department of Comparative Diagnostic and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- University of Florida, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fraulin G, Lee S, Bartels SA. 'They came with cholera when they were tired of killing us with bullets': Community perceptions of the 2010 origin of Haiti's cholera epidemic. Glob Public Health 2021; 17:738-752. [PMID: 33600731 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2021.1887315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In 2010 following a catastrophic earthquake, Haiti saw the beginning of what would become the world's largest cholera epidemic. Nepalese United Nations peacekeepers were later implicated as the source of cholera. Our research examines Haitian community beliefs and perceptions, six-and-a-half years after the outbreak began, regarding the origin of Haiti's cholera outbreak. A narrative capture tool was used to record micronarratives of Haitian participants surrounding ten United Nations bases across Haiti. Seventy-seven micronarratives focused on cholera were selected for qualitative analysis from a larger dataset. Three themes emerged: who introduced cholera to Haiti, how cholera was introduced to Haiti, and preventative measures against cholera. With varying levels of confidence, the origins of the epidemic were conceptualised as directly resulting from the actions of the United Nations and Nepalese peacekeepers, exhibiting a distrust of foreign intervention in Haiti and frustration with inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure that facilitated widespread transmission of cholera. This study reinforces the need for additional transparent communication from the UN to address ongoing misconceptions surrounding the cholera outbreak, action to clean water and sanitation practices in Haiti, and for the voices of Haitian citizens to be heard and included in reforming foreign aid delivery in the country.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Fraulin
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Sabine Lee
- Department of History, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Susan A Bartels
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.,Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bokhari H. Exploitation of microbial forensics and nanotechnology for the monitoring of emerging pathogens. Crit Rev Microbiol 2018. [PMID: 29513060 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2018.1444013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases remain among the leading causes of global mortality. Traditional laboratory diagnostic approaches designed to detect and track infectious disease agents provide a framework for surveillance of bio threats. However, surveillance and outbreak investigations using such time-consuming approaches for early detection of pathogens remain the major pitfall. Hence, reasonable real-time surveillance systems to anticipate threats to public health and environment are critical for identifying specific aetiologies and preventing the global spread of infectious disease. The current review discusses the growing need for monitoring and surveillance of pathogens with the same zeal and approach as adopted by microbial forensics laboratories, and further strengthening it by integrating with the innovative nanotechnology for rapid detection of microbial pathogens. Such innovative diagnostics platforms will help to track pathogens from high risk areas and environment by pre-emptive approach that will minimize damages. The various scenarios with the examples are discussed where the high risk associated human pathogens in particular were successfully detected using various nanotechnology approaches with potential future prospects in the field of microbial forensics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Habib Bokhari
- a Microbiology & Public Health Lab, Department of Biosciences , COMSATS Institute of Information Technology , Islamabad , Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Antimicrobial Resistance Risks of Cholera Prophylaxis for United Nations Peacekeepers. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.00026-17. [DOI: 10.1128/aac.00026-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
More than 5 years after a United Nations peacekeeping battalion introduced cholera to Haiti, over 150,000 peacekeepers continue to be deployed annually from countries where cholera is endemic. The United Nations has thus far declined to provide antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis to peacekeepers, a policy based largely on concerns that the risks of drug resistance generation and spread would outweigh the potential benefits of preventing future cholera importations. In this study, we sought to better understand the relative benefits and risks of cholera chemoprophylaxis for peacekeepers in terms of antibiotic resistance. Using a stochastic model to quantify the potential impact of chemoprophylaxis on importation and transmission of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive
Vibrio cholerae
, we found that chemoprophylaxis would decrease the probability of cholera importation but would increase the expected number of drug-resistant infections if an importation event were to occur. Despite this potential increase, we found that at least 10 drug-sensitive infections would likely be averted per excess drug-resistant infection under a wide range of assumptions about the underlying prevalence of drug resistance and risk of acquired resistance. Given these findings, policymakers should reconsider whether the potential resistance risks of providing antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis to peacekeepers are sufficient to outweigh the anticipated benefits.
Collapse
|
5
|
Coker-Bolt P, Jansson A, Bigg S, Hammond E, Hudson H, Hunkler S, Kitch J, Richardson H, Tiedemann E, O'Flynn J, Laurent MD. Menstrual Education and Personal Hygiene Supplies to Empower Young Women in Haiti. OTJR-OCCUPATION PARTICIPATION AND HEALTH 2017; 37:210-217. [PMID: 28737079 DOI: 10.1177/1539449217719866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies report that Haitian women are concerned about unmet women's health issues. The Days for Girls (DfG) International program features women's health education and personal hygiene kits to ensure women understand the process of menstruation and sanitary hygiene practices. The aim was to train Haitian seamstresses to produce the DfG kits during an in-country workshop and investigate the perceived benefit of the DfG program in young women who used the DfG kits. Posttest only design was used to measure the effectiveness of DfG workshop and postsurvey to study perception of women using DfG kits. It was found that the workshop participants demonstrated an understanding of the DfG program (90% average). Forty-four young women (89.8%) who used the DfG hygiene kits for 2 months agreed that there is a need for feminine hygiene programs in Haiti and that the kits were easy to use and clean (97.1% and 92.1%, respectively). The DfG program could provide a cost-effective feminine hygiene program for Haiti and decrease waste from traditional hygiene products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sarah Hunkler
- 1 Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | - Jana Kitch
- 1 Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Houghton F, Norris A. Credibility, integrity, transparency & courage: The Haitian Cholera outbreak and the United Nations (UN). J Infect Public Health 2017; 11:140-141. [PMID: 28209469 PMCID: PMC7128315 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F Houghton
- Department of Public Health & Health Promotion, Eastern Washington University, United States.
| | - A Norris
- Department of Public Health & Health Promotion, Eastern Washington University, United States
| |
Collapse
|