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Operationalization of the test and not treat strategy to accelerate the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Central Africa

Kamgno, Joseph, Nana-Djeunga, Hugues C, Pion, Sébastien D, Chesnais, Cédric B, Klion, Amy D, Mackenzie, Charles, Nutman, Thomas B and Boussinesq, Michel (2018) 'Operationalization of the test and not treat strategy to accelerate the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Central Africa'. International Health, Vol 10, Issue suppl_1, i49-i53.

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Abstract

After 30 years of treatment with Mectizan (ivermectin), cutaneous and ocular complications of Onchocerca volvulus infection are now scarce in endemic communities. Indeed, transmission has been interrupted and the O. volvulus- associated disease has disappeared in some African foci. Despite this success, onchocerciasis elimination in Loa loa co-endemic areas is still constrained by severe adverse events (SAEs) occurring after ivermectin treatment in some individuals harbouring very high L. loa microfilaremia. One approach towards the prevention of these SAEs is to identify individuals with high L. loa microfilaremia and exclude them from ivermectin treatment. The development of the LoaScope has provided the tool that underlies this test and not treat (TaNT) strategy. The first successful TaNT campaign was conducted in a L. loa highly endemic focus in Cameroon in 2015 without any SAEs. To accomplish this within a research setting, 60 people were deployed for this campaign, making this ‘research’ strategy not sustainable from a cost perspective. We describe here a way of reducing the cost of the TaNT strategy with a smaller team (three people) selected within affected communities. We also suggest the organization of a TaNT campaign in affected countries.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: QV Pharmacology > Anti-Inflammatory Agents. Anti-Infective Agents. Antineoplastic Agents > QV 250 Anti-infective agents (General)
QX Parasitology > Helminths. Annelida > QX 301 Filarioidea
WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 880 Filariasis and related conditions (General)
WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 885 Onchocerciasis
Faculty: Department: Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihx051
SWORD Depositor: JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User: Stacy Murtagh
Date Deposited: 27 Feb 2018 17:02
Last Modified: 12 Sep 2018 09:15
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/8277

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