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Mayfield HJ, Sartorius B, Sheridan S, Howlett M, Martin BM, Thomsen R, Tofaeono-Pifeleti R, Viali S, Graves PM, Lau CL. Ongoing transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Samoa 4.5 years after one round of triple-drug mass drug administration. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012236. [PMID: 38935622 PMCID: PMC11210818 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphatic filariasis (LF) remains a significant global issue. To eliminate LF as a public health problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends multiple rounds of mass drug administration (MDA). In certain scenarios, including when elimination targets have not been met with two-drug MDA, triple-drug MDA (using ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) is recommended. In this study, we report on antigen (Ag) and microfilaria (Mf) prevalence in eight primary sampling units (PSUs) in Samoa 4.5 years after one round of triple-drug MDA. METHODOLOGY In 2023, community surveys were conducted in eight PSUs that had been surveyed previously in 2018 (between 1.5 and 3.5 months post triple-drug MDA) and 2019 (six to eight-months post triple-drug MDA). Fifteen houses were randomly selected in each PSU with household members aged ≥ 5 years invited to participate. Blood samples were tested for Ag and Mf. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Ag-positive participants were observed in six of the eight PSUs, and Ag prevalence was significantly above the 1% threshold in four PSUs. The presence of Mf-positive participants in five PSUs confirms the presence of residual active infections. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This study provides evidence of persistent LF transmission in Samoa 4.5 years after one round of triple-drug MDA, confirming that one round was insufficient for interruption of transmission in this setting. Our findings highlight the negative impact of delaying MDA rounds, for example, due to public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen J. Mayfield
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Benn Sartorius
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah Sheridan
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Maddison Howlett
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Beatris Mario Martin
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | | | - Satupaitea Viali
- School of Medicine, National University of Samoa, Apia, Samoa
- Oceania University of Medicine Samoa, Apia, Samoa
| | - Patricia M. Graves
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
| | - Colleen L. Lau
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Stevens L, Kieninger M, Chan B, Wood JMD, Gonzalez de la Rosa P, Allen J, Blaxter M. The genome of Litomosoides sigmodontis illuminates the origins of Y chromosomes in filarial nematodes. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011116. [PMID: 38227589 PMCID: PMC10817185 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Heteromorphic sex chromosomes are usually thought to have originated from a pair of autosomes that acquired a sex-determining locus and subsequently stopped recombining, leading to degeneration of the sex-limited chromosome. The majority of nematode species lack heteromorphic sex chromosomes and determine sex using an X-chromosome counting mechanism, with males being hemizygous for one or more X chromosomes (XX/X0). Some filarial nematode species, including important parasites of humans, have heteromorphic XX/XY karyotypes. It has been assumed that sex is determined by a Y-linked locus in these species. However, karyotypic analyses suggested that filarial Y chromosomes are derived from the unfused homologue of an autosome involved in an X-autosome fusion event. Here, we generated a chromosome-level reference genome for Litomosoides sigmodontis, a filarial nematode with the ancestral filarial karyotype and sex determination mechanism (XX/X0). By mapping the assembled chromosomes to the rhabditid nematode ancestral linkage (or Nigon) elements, we infer that the ancestral filarial X chromosome was the product of a fusion between NigonX (the ancestrally X-linked element) and NigonD (ancestrally autosomal). In the two filarial lineages with XY systems, there have been two independent X-autosome chromosome fusion events involving different autosomal Nigon elements. In both lineages, the region shared by the neo-X and neo-Y chromosomes is within the ancestrally autosomal portion of the X, confirming that the filarial Y chromosomes are derived from the unfused homologue of the autosome. Sex determination in XY filarial nematodes therefore likely continues to operate via the ancestral X-chromosome counting mechanism, rather than via a Y-linked sex-determining locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Stevens
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Brian Chan
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Judith Allen
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Blaxter
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Izquierdo-Condoy JS, Naranjo-Lara P, Vásconez-Gonzalez J, Fernandez-Naranjo R, Placencia-André R, Davila MG, Carrington SJ, Ortiz-Prado E. A nationwide epidemiological and geodemographic analysis of lymphatic filariasis in Ecuador: a neglected and often forgotten disease in Ecuador. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1270015. [PMID: 38035299 PMCID: PMC10682787 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1270015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes and affecting the lymphatic system. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with LF during the last 11 years of available data in Ecuador. Methods A 11-year nationwide analysis of hospital admission and in-hospital mortality based on the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) data was conducted in Ecuador from 2011 to 2021. The International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) code for filariasis (ICD: B74) was used to retrieve information on severe LF as a proxy for incidence among 221 Ecuadorian cities. Results A total of 26 hospital admissions and 3 deaths due to LF were registered. The highest mortality rate was found in populations over 80 years. Men accounted for 62.5% (n = 17) of total number of cases with an average incidence rate of 1.7 cases per/1,000,000, while females accounted for 34.6% (n = 9), representing 1 case per/1,000,000 woman. Cities located at lower altitude (459/1,000,000) reported higher incidence rates than those located at higher altitudes (7.4/1,000,000). Conclusion This is the first study on LF in Ecuador. Although, Ecuador is not considered endemic for LF, we found evidence of the presence of this disease in recent years. The implementation and improvement of an adequate integrated epidemiological surveillance system will allow early identification of cases and therefore their respective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jorge Vásconez-Gonzalez
- One Health Global Research Group, Universidad de las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Tecnologías PUCE TEC, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | | | - María G. Davila
- One Health Global Research Group, Universidad de las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Esteban Ortiz-Prado
- One Health Global Research Group, Universidad de las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
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Stroffolini G, Tamarozzi F, Fittipaldo A, Mazzi C, Le B, Vaz Nery S, Buonfrate D. Impact of preventive chemotherapy on Strongyloides stercoralis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011473. [PMID: 37428815 PMCID: PMC10358935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Strongyloides stercoralis is a neglected soil-transmitted helminth (STH) that leads to significant morbidity in endemic populations. Infection with this helminth has recently been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a major global health problem to be addressed with ivermectin preventive chemotherapy, and therefore, there is now, the need to develop guidelines for strongyloidiasis control that can be implemented by endemic countries. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ivermectin preventive chemotherapy (PC) on S. stercoralis prevalence in endemic areas to generate evidence that can inform global health policy. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and LILACS for literature published between 1990 and 2022 and reporting prevalence of S. stercoralis before and after PC with ivermectin, administered either at school or at community level. The search strategy identified 933 records, eight of which were included in the meta-analysis. Data extraction and quality assessment were carried out by two authors. Meta-analysis of studies based on fecal testing demonstrated a significant reduction of S. stercoralis prevalence after PC: prevalence Risk Ratio (RR) 0.18 (95% CI 0.14-0.23), I2 = 0. A similar trend was observed in studies that used serology for diagnosis: RR 0.35 (95% CI 0.26-0.48), I2 = 4.25%. A sensitivity analysis was carried out for fecal tests where low quality studies were removed, confirming a post-intervention reduction in prevalence. The impact of PC could not be evaluated at different time points or comparing annual vs biannual administration due to insufficient data. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our findings demonstrate a significant decrease of S. stercoralis prevalence in areas where ivermectin PC has taken place, supporting the use of ivermectin PC in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Stroffolini
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don A. Sempreboni, 5, 37024 Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Tamarozzi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don A. Sempreboni, 5, 37024 Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Fittipaldo
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don A. Sempreboni, 5, 37024 Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Cristina Mazzi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don A. Sempreboni, 5, 37024 Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Brandon Le
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Susana Vaz Nery
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dora Buonfrate
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don A. Sempreboni, 5, 37024 Negrar, Verona, Italy
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