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Agbanyo A, Agbavor B, Gyabaah S, Oppong MN, Dornu O, Antwi PB, Loglo AD, Abass KM, Amofa G, Kotey NK, Quao B, Frimpong M, Asiedu K, Amoako YA, Phillips RO. Implementation of an integrated control programme for neglected tropical diseases of the skin in Ghana: The essential role of the laboratory. J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis 2024; 35:100442. [PMID: 38680788 PMCID: PMC11046218 DOI: 10.1016/j.jctube.2024.100442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction In this study, we report on findings from approaches used, the outcomes and the lessons learnt from the laboratory support provided for integrated control of skin NTDs including Buruli ulcer (BU), and yaws in seven selected districts in Ghana. Methods Actions implemented from July 2018 to October 2022 included; training district-level health workers on specimen collection, storage, and transport to laboratories, integrated case searches, continual monitoring and supervision for trained health workers, laboratory confirmation of BU and yaws samples and providing results of the analysed samples to guide decision making. Descriptive analysis of data was performed. Results A total of 18,683 (including suspected BU 976; suspected yaws 10,995) individuals were screened for BU and yaws. Of 976 suspected BU cases, 16.8% [median (IQR) age 24 (12.0-37.8) years] were confirmed positive by IS2404 PCR; BU mostly presented as ulcers (78.7%); category I (37.2%) and category II (36%). 480 individuals (4.4%) had DPP positive yaws. Multiplex PCR analysis of 75 selected DPP positive cases identified; 7 DPP positive yaws cases as Treponema pallidum, 28 as Haemophilus ducreyi and 7 as Treponema pallidum/Haemophilus ducreyi coinfection. Laboratory results were sent to the districts within a median (IQR) of 5 (3 - 9) days. Conclusion The implementation of integrated diagnostic confirmation for skin NTDs is feasible with provision of timely results within a week. Multiplex diagnostic tools differentiated Treponema pallidum and Haemophilus ducreyi. There is a need to sustain active case search activities, enhance health worker training, and improve laboratory confirmation of cases as part of the overall strategy for the integrated control of skin neglected tropical diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Agbanyo
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bernadette Agbavor
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Solomon Gyabaah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Ntiamoah Oppong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Olivia Dornu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Philemon Boasiako Antwi
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Aloysius Dzigbordi Loglo
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | | | | | - Michael Frimpong
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Kingsley Asiedu
- Department for Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yaw Ampem Amoako
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richard Odame Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Akuffo RA, Sanchez C, Amanor I, Amedior JS, Kotey NK, Anto F, Azurago T, Ablordey A, Owusu-Antwi F, Beshah A, Amoako YA, Phillips RO, Wilson M, Asiedu K, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Moreno J, Mokni M. Endemic infectious cutaneous ulcers syndrome in the Oti Region of Ghana: Study of cutaneous leishmaniasis, yaws and Haemophilus ducreyi cutaneous ulcers. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292034. [PMID: 37756291 PMCID: PMC10529585 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A recent study detected cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in 31.9% of persons with skin ulcers in the Oti Region of Ghana, resulting in a need to investigate other potential causes of the unexplained skin ulcers. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Oti region to investigate skin ulcers of undetermined aetiologies. To confirm a diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis, Buruli ulcer, Haemophilus ducreyi ulcers, or yaws, DNA obtained from each patient skin ulcer sample was systematically subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Leishmania spp., Mycobacterium ulcerans, Haemophilus ducreyi, and Treponema pallidum sub species pertenue. A total of 101 skin ulcer samples were obtained from 101 persons. Co-infection of more than one organism was observed in 68.3% of the samples. Forty (39.6%) participants had a positive result for Leishmania spp., 68 (67.3%) for Treponema pallidum sub. Sp. pertenue, and 74 (73.3%) for H. ducreyi. Twenty (19.8%) of the patient ulcers were simultaneously infected with Leishmania spp., Treponema pallidum sub. Sp. pertenue, and H. ducreyi. None of the patients' lesions yielded a positive result for Mycobacterium ulcerans. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This study detected single and mixed occurrence of the causative organisms of CL, yaws, and H. ducreyi cutaneous ulcers in CL endemic communities of the Oti Region in Ghana. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating multiple skin diseases on a common research platform and calls for the development of a comprehensive guideline for diagnosing and treating tropical ulcers in the study areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Adjei Akuffo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Carmen Sanchez
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERINFEC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivy Amanor
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | - Francis Anto
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Anthony Ablordey
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Abate Beshah
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
| | - Yaw Ampem Amoako
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richard Odame Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Wilson
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kingsley Asiedu
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jose-Antonio Ruiz-Postigo
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERINFEC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mourad Mokni
- La Rabta Hospital Dermatology Department, Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of al-Manar 2, Tunis, Tunisia
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Yeboah C, Mosore MT, Attram N, Shelite TR, Akuffo RA, Addo SO, Behene E, Agbodzi B, Bentil RE, Fox AT, Wilson M, Boakye D, Letizia AG, Melby PC, Travi BL. A Preliminary Study to Compare Recombinase Polymerase Amplification-Lateral Flow and Quantitative PCR in the Detection of Cutaneous Leishmania in Communities from the Volta Region of Ghana. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:75-80. [PMID: 36763962 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that mostly affects populations in tropical and subtropical countries. In Ghana, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of the disease affecting communities of the Volta Region. Conventional parasitological method (microscopy) is the commonly used test for CL diagnosis in many endemic countries, but has low sensitivity in chronic cases. Therefore, there is a clear need for a sensitive and easy-to-use point-of-care diagnostic method like an isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification-lateral flow (RPA-LF) test, suitable for use in austere and low-resource settings for the identification of CL cases. This study compared the efficacy of RPA-LF test with quantitative PCR (qPCR) in detecting Leishmania in suspected CL cases from the Volta Region. Methods: Twenty-five participants between 5 and 14 years were enrolled in the study from whom a total of 26 samples were obtained. Lesion samples were collected using FTA® filter papers applied to ulcerated lesions for molecular diagnosis. DNA isolated from filter papers was used for both the RPA-LF test and qPCR. Results: Twenty-two participants (88%) presented with one or two ulcerated active lesions per individual, while the rest of them had plaques or dried lesions. Among the 26 samples, 19/26 (73%) had concordant results when comparing the two diagnostic methods. Conclusion: Data from this study suggest that the RPA-LF test can be used in addition to a conventional parasitological diagnostic test (microscopy) to detect CL cases in communities of the Volta Region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Yeboah
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | - Mba-Tihssommah Mosore
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | - Naiki Attram
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | - Thomas R Shelite
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Richard A Akuffo
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Seth O Addo
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | - Eric Behene
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bright Agbodzi
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ronald E Bentil
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | - Anne T Fox
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | - Michael Wilson
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Daniel Boakye
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Andrew G Letizia
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | - Peter C Melby
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Bruno L Travi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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Effects of negative air ions (NAIs) on Leishmania major: A novel tool for treatment of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274124. [PMID: 36074764 PMCID: PMC9455840 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) that causes high morbidity in the tropics and sub-tropics. Despite the remarkable advancements in the treatment of CL, the available therapeutics are far from ideal and also cause serious adverse side effects. Negative air ions (NAIs) generators are widely available for domestic and industrial uses. Several studies have reported on positive effects of NAIs therapy on human health as a non-pharmaceutical treatment for respiratory disease, allergy, or stress-related health conditions, including infectious diseases. To our knowledge, no studies have examined the effectiveness of the NAIs therapy against Leishmania parasites. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of NAIs therapy on Leishmania major (L. major) the causative agent of CL in in vitro and in a murine model. Methodology/Principal findings In vitro anti-leishmanial effects of NAIs therapy were measured by parasitological methods. NAIs therapy was assessed in vivo in L. major infected BALB/c mice by measuring the footpad (FP) lesion size and parasite load using metric caliper tool and qPCR, respectively. Immune responses in treated and non-treated mice were assessed by measuring the levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, NO and arginase activity. In vitro NAIs therapy significantly decreased the viability of Leishmania promastigotes and of amastigotes cultured in macrophages, but did not affect the host cells. NAIs therapy of L. major infected BALB/c mice resulted in reduced FP lesion size, diminished parasite burden, and importantly decreased induction of IL-4 and arginase activity in the presence of NAIs. In contrast IFN-γ and NO levels were significantly enhanced. NAIs therapy significantly diminished the progression of disease compared to the control group, but was less effective than amphotericin B treatment. Conclusions Our study shows that NAIs treatment was effective in vitro and in Leishmania-infected mice, elicited a T-helper 1 (Th1) response and increased efficient cellular immunity, resulting in a diminished parasite load. Therefore, NAIs therapy can be considered as a useful and safe tool that can contribute to clearing L. major infections without inducing toxicity in host cells. The applications and mechanisms of NAIs therapy warrant further investigation especially in humans suffering from CL.
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Weinreich F, Weinreich F, Hahn A, Hagen RM, Rohde H, Sarfo FS, Feldt T, Dompreh A, Asibey SO, Boateng R, Frickmann H, Eberhardt KA. Screening for Schistosoma spp. and Leishmania spp. DNA in Serum of Ghanaian Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11070760. [PMID: 35890001 PMCID: PMC9323644 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11070760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Both Schistosoma spp. (species) and Leishmania spp. are prevalent in Ghana in West Africa. However, little is known about their local occurrence in immunocompromised individuals. In the study presented here, the real-time PCR-(polymerase chain reaction-)based screening for repetitive DNA (deoxyribonucleotide acid) sequences from the genomes of Leishmania (L.) spp. and Schistosoma (S.) spp. was performed in the serum of HIV-(human immunodeficiency virus-)infected Ghanaian patients. In 1083 assessed serum samples from HIV-positive and HIV-negative Ghanian patients, Leishmania spp.-specific DNA was not detected, while the diagnostic accuracy-adjusted prevalence estimation suggested a 3.6% prevalence of the S. mansoni complex and a 0.5% prevalence of the S. haematobium complex. Associations of schistosomiasis with younger age, as well as with the male sex, could be shown but not with an HIV status. Weakly significant signals for the associations of schistosomiasis with an increased viral load, reduced CD4+ (CD = cluster of differentiation) T cell count, and a reduced CD4+/CD8+ ratio could be observed but was inconsistently lost in the case of the stratification on the species complex level. So, it is concluded that factors other than HIV status are more likely to have influenced the occurrence of Schistosoma spp. infections in the assessed Ghanaian patients. Potential associations between HIV infection-associated factors, such as the viral load and the immune status of the patients, for which weak signals were observed in this hypothesis-forming retrospective assessment, should be confirmed by prospective, sufficiently powered investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Weinreich
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (F.W.); (F.W.); (H.F.)
| | - Felix Weinreich
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (F.W.); (F.W.); (H.F.)
| | - Andreas Hahn
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Ralf Matthias Hagen
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, Germany;
| | - Holger Rohde
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20251 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Fred Stephen Sarfo
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ghana;
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi 00233, Ghana;
| | - Torsten Feldt
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Albert Dompreh
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi 00233, Ghana; (A.D.); (R.B.)
| | | | - Richard Boateng
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi 00233, Ghana; (A.D.); (R.B.)
| | - Hagen Frickmann
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (F.W.); (F.W.); (H.F.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Kirsten Alexandra Eberhardt
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine & I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Division of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Hygiene and Environment, 20539 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-40-42818-0
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Novel Hydrogels for Topical Applications: An Updated Comprehensive Review Based on Source. Gels 2022; 8:gels8030174. [PMID: 35323287 PMCID: PMC8948742 DOI: 10.3390/gels8030174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) or drugs are normally not delivered as pure chemical substances (for the prevention or the treatment of any diseases). APIs are still generally administered in prepared formulations, also known as dosage forms. Topical administration is widely used to deliver therapeutic agents locally because it is convenient and cost-effective. Since earlier civilizations, several types of topical semi-solid dosage forms have been commonly used in healthcare society to treat various skin diseases. A topical drug delivery system is designed primarily to treat local diseases by applying therapeutic agents to surface level parts of the body such as the skin, eyes, nose, and vaginal cavity. Nowadays, novel semi-solids can be used safely in pediatrics, geriatrics, and pregnant women without the possibility of causing any allergy reactions. The novel hydrogels are being used in a wide range of applications. At first, numerous hydrogel research studies were carried out by simply adding various APIs in pure form or dissolved in various solvents to the prepared hydrogel base. However, numerous research articles on novel hydrogels have been published in the last five to ten years. It is expected that novel hydrogels will be capable of controlling the APIs release pattern. Novel hydrogels are made up of novel formulations such as nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, microemulsions, liposomes, self-nano emulsifying drug delivery systems, cubosomes, and so on. This review focus on some novel formulations incorporated in the hydrogel prepared with natural and synthetic polymers.
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Akuffo R, Wilson M, Sarfo B, Dako-Gyeke P, Adanu R, Anto F. Insecticide-treated net (ITN) use, factors associated with non-use of ITNs, and occurrence of sand flies in three communities with reported cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ghana. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261192. [PMID: 34914742 PMCID: PMC8675665 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The insecticide treated bed net (ITN) has been proven for malaria control. Evidence from systematic review also suggests benefits of ITN roll out in reducing the incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and other vector borne diseases. Methods Using a community-based cross-sectional study design, ITN use, factors associated with non-use of ITNs, and occurrence of sand flies were investigated in three communities with reported cases of CL in the Oti region of Ghana. Results A total of 587 households comprising 189 (32.2%), 200 (34.1%), and 198 (33.7%) households from Ashiabre, Keri, and Sibi Hilltop communities with de facto population of 3639 participated in this study. The proportion of households that owned at least one ITN was 97.1%. The number of households having at least one ITN for every two members was 386 (65.8%) and 3159 (86.8%) household population had access to ITN. The household population that slept in ITN the night before this survey was 2370 (65.1%). Lack of household access to ITN (AOR = 1.80; CI: 1.31, 2.47), having a family size of more than 10 members (AOR = 2.53; CI: 1.20, 4.24), having more than 10 rooms for sleeping in a household (AOR = 10.18; CI: 1.28, 81.00), having 2–4 screened windows (AOR = 1.49; CI: 1.00, 2.20), and having 8–10 screened windows (AOR = 3.57; CI: 1.25, 10.17) were significantly associated with increased odds of not sleeping in ITN the night before the survey. A total of 193 female sand flies were trapped from various locations within the study communities. Conclusions Factors associated with ITN non-use such as lack of household access to ITN should be incorporated into future efforts to improve ITN use. Species of sand flies and their potential vectorial role in the study communities should also be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Akuffo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Michael Wilson
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bismark Sarfo
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Richard Adanu
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Francis Anto
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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