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Trippler L, Taylor L, Ali MN, Najim SO, Khamis KS, Hattendorf J, Juma S, Ame SM, Kabole F, Ali SM, Knopp S. Test-treat-track-test-treat (5T) approach for Schistosoma haematobium elimination on Pemba Island, Tanzania. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:661. [PMID: 38956479 PMCID: PMC11218394 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09549-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After decades of praziquantel mass drug administration (MDA), several countries approach schistosomiasis elimination. Continuing MDA in largely uninfected populations no longer seems justified. Alternative interventions to maintain the gains or accelerate interruption of transmission are needed. We report results, strengths, and shortcomings of novel test-treat-track-test-treat (5T) interventions in low Schistosoma haematobium prevalence areas on Pemba, Tanzania. METHODS School- and household-based surveys were conducted in 2021 and 2022 to monitor the S. haematobium and microhematuria prevalence and assess the impact of interventions. In 2021, 5T interventions were implemented in 15 low-prevalence areas and included: (i) testing schoolchildren in primary and Islamic schools for microhematuria as a proxy for S. haematobium, (ii) treating positive children, (iii) tracking them to their households and to water bodies they frequented, (iv) testing individuals at households and water bodies, and (v) treating positive individuals. Additionally, test-and-treat interventions were implemented in the 22 health facilities of the study area. RESULTS The S. haematobium prevalence in the school-based survey in 15 low-prevalence implementation units was 0.5% (7/1560) in 2021 and 0.4% (6/1645) in 2022. In the household-based survey, 0.5% (14/2975) and 0.7% (19/2920) of participants were infected with S. haematobium in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The microhematuria prevalence, excluding trace results, in the school-based survey was 1.4% (21/1560) in 2021 and 1.5% (24/1645) in 2022. In the household-based survey, it was 3.3% (98/2975) in 2021 and 5.4% (159/2920) in 2022. During the 5T interventions, the microhaematuria prevalence was 3.8% (140/3700) and 5.8% (34/594) in children in primary and Islamic schools, respectively, 17.1% (44/258) in household members, and 16.7% (10/60) in people at water bodies. In health facilities, 19.8% (70/354) of patients tested microhematuria-positive. CONCLUSIONS The targeted 5T interventions maintained the very low S. haematobium prevalence and proved straightforward and feasible to identify and treat many of the few S. haematobium-infected individuals. Future research will show whether 5T interventions can maintain gains in the longer-term and expedite elimination. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN, ISCRCTN91431493. Registered 11 February 2020, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN91431493 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Trippler
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lyndsay Taylor
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Sarah Omar Najim
- Ivo de Carneri, Wawi, Chake Chake, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania
| | | | - Jan Hattendorf
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Saleh Juma
- Neglected Diseases Program, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Mkoroshoni, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Shaali Makame Ame
- Neglected Diseases Program, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Lumumba, Unguja, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Fatma Kabole
- Neglected Diseases Program, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Lumumba, Unguja, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Said Mohammed Ali
- Ivo de Carneri, Wawi, Chake Chake, Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Stefanie Knopp
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Maddren R, Anderson RM. Measuring heterogeneities in soil-transmitted helminth transmission and control. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:45-59. [PMID: 38087679 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The global effort over the past decade to control soil-transmitted helminths (STH) has resulted in communities with endemic infection reaching low prevalence levels suitable for the validation of elimination as a public health problem (EPHP), defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as <2% of infections classified as moderate or heavy intensity. The spatial scale in which this is validated is currently undefined. As the burden of STH infection decreases, the degree of aggregation of infection within individuals in a population increases. Identifying these remaining pockets of infection requires fine-scale monitoring and evaluation (M&E) programmes that are rarely implemented within current national neglected tropical disease (NTD) control. This review examines various heterogeneities that characterise the epidemiology of STH infections, and discusses their impact on control policy formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie Maddren
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Roy M Anderson
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Maganga JK, Campbell CH, Angelo T, Mosha J, Mwanga JR, Kinung’hi SM. Test-Treat-Track-Test-Treat Strategy for Control of Schistosomiasis in Two Low-Prevalence Villages in Northwestern Tanzania. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 108:1167-1174. [PMID: 37160273 PMCID: PMC10540130 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0442] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Mass drug administration of praziquantel becomes a less attractive strategy for elimination of schistosomiasis in low-prevalence areas due to cost implications and low treatment compliance. We aimed to determine the feasibility of a Test-Treat-Track-Test-Treat (5T) strategy in two low-prevalence villages; the 5T strategy has been successfully implemented in diseases such as malaria. A total of 200 school children aged 6-12 years were randomly selected from two schools and tested for Schistosoma mansoni infection using the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen test. Schistosoma mansoni-positive children, referred to as first-generation cases (FGCs), were tracked and treated including up to five members of their families. Second-generation cases, identified by the FGCs as their close, non-relative contacts, were also tracked, tested, and treated, including up to five members of their families. The prevalence of schistosomiasis among screened FGCs was 16.5% (33/200) in both villages. Twenty-four FGCs were included in the study. Prevalence among 94 contacts of FGCs was 46.8% (44/94). The proportion was higher in Muda than Bulunga village (61.2% versus 31.1%, χ2 = 10.6611, P = 0.005). Prevalence among SGCs and their contacts was 37.5% (9/24) and 47.1% (49/104), respectively. Overall, the 5T strategy identified 102 additional cases out of 222 tracked from FGCs, 95% of whom were treated, at a total time of 52 hours. Our data demonstrate the potential of the 5T strategy in identifying and treating additional cases in the community and hence its practicality in schistosomiasis control in low-prevalence settings at relatively low time and resources investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane K. Maganga
- National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Center, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Carl H. Campbell
- Schistosomiasis Consortium for Operational Research and Evaluation, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Teckla Angelo
- National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Center, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Justina Mosha
- National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Center, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Joseph R. Mwanga
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
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Colley DG, Ramzy RMR, Maganga J, Kinung'hi S, Odiere MR, Musuva RM, Campbell CH. The POC-CCA assay for detection of Schistosoma mansoni infection needs standardization in production and proper quality control to be reliable. Acta Trop 2023; 238:106795. [PMID: 36539024 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Colley
- Schistosomiasis Consortium for Operational Research and Evaluation (SCORE), Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia; Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
| | - Reda M R Ramzy
- National Nutrition Institute, General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Jane Maganga
- National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mwanza Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Safari Kinung'hi
- National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mwanza Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Maurice R Odiere
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Rosemary M Musuva
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Carl H Campbell
- Schistosomiasis Consortium for Operational Research and Evaluation (SCORE), Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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Weld ED, Astemborski J, Kirk GD, Sulkowski MS, Stephanie K, Rothman R, Solomon SS, Matthews GV, Hsieh YH, Verma M, Traverso G, Swindells S, Owen A, Feld J, Flexner C, Mehta SH, Thomas DL. Preferences of Persons with or at Risk for Hepatitis C for Long-Acting Treatments. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 75:3-10. [PMID: 34699587 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whereas safe, curative treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been available since 2015, there are still 58 million infected persons worldwide, and global elimination may require new paradigms. We sought to understand the acceptability of long-acting HCV treatment approaches. METHODS A cross-sectional, 43-question survey was administered to 1457 individuals with HCV or at risk of HCV at 28 sites in 9 countries to assess comparative interest in a variety of long-acting strategies in comparison to oral pills. RESULTS Among HCV-positive participants, 37.7% most preferred an injection, 5.6% an implant, and 6% a gastric residence device, as compared to 50.8% who stated they would most prefer taking 1 to 3 pills per day. When compared directly to taking pills, differences were observed in the relative preference for an injection based on age (p<0.001), location (p<0.001), and prior receipt of HCV treatment (p=0.005), but not sex. When an implant was compared to pills, greater preference was represented by women (p=0.01) and adults of younger ages (p=0.012 per 5 years). Among participants without HCV, 49.5% felt that injections are stronger than pills, and 34.7% preferred taking injections to pills. Among those at-risk participants who had received injectable medications in the past, 123 out of 137 (89.8%) expressed willingness to receive one in the future. CONCLUSIONS These data point to high acceptability of long-acting treatments, which for a substantial minority, might even be preferred to pills for the treatment of HCV infection. Long-acting treatments for HCV infection might contribute to global efforts to eliminate hepatitis C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethel D Weld
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacqueline Astemborski
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gregory D Kirk
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark S Sulkowski
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katz Stephanie
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard Rothman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sunil S Solomon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Yu-Hsiang Hsieh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Malvika Verma
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Giovanni Traverso
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan Swindells
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Andrew Owen
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre of Excellence in Long acting Therapeutics (CELT), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jordan Feld
- The Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles Flexner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shruti H Mehta
- Department of Epidemiology, Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David L Thomas
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Novel tools and strategies for breaking schistosomiasis transmission: study protocol for an intervention study. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:1024. [PMID: 34592960 PMCID: PMC8482678 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06620-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Global elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem is set as target in the new World Health Organization’s Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap for 2030. Due to a long history of interventions, the Zanzibar islands of Tanzania have reached this goal since 2017. However, challenges occur on the last mile towards interruption of transmission. Our study will investigate new tools and strategies for breaking schistosomiasis transmission. Methods The study is designed as an intervention study, documented through repeated cross-sectional surveys (2020–2024). The primary endpoint will be the sensitivity of a surveillance-response approach to detect and react to outbreaks of urogenital schistosomiasis over three years of implementation. The surveys and multi-disciplinary interventions will be implemented in 20 communities in the north of Pemba island. In low-prevalence areas, surveillance-response will consist of active, passive and reactive case detection, treatment of positive individuals, and focal snail control. In hotspot areas, mass drug administration, snail control and behaviour change interventions will be implemented. Parasitological cross-sectional surveys in 20 communities and their main primary schools will serve to adapt the intervention approach annually and to monitor the performance of the surveillance-response approach and impact of interventions. Schistosoma haematobium infections will be diagnosed using reagent strips and urine filtration microscopy, and by exploring novel point-of-care diagnostic tests. Discussion Our study will shed light on the field applicability and performance of novel adaptive intervention strategies, and standard and new diagnostic tools for schistosomiasis elimination. The evidence and experiences generated by micro-mapping of S. haematobium infections at community level, micro-targeting of new adaptive intervention approaches, and application of novel diagnostic tools can guide future strategic plans for schistosomiasis elimination in Zanzibar and inform other countries aiming for interruption of transmission. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISCRCTN91431493. Registered 11 February 2020, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN91431493
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