RTI

A pilot study to identify meaningful and measurable targets for detecting the control of schistosomiasis-related morbidity in Africa. The overall study is designed to answer the following primary evaluation questions:

• What are the infection levels of Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium below which there is little, or no, detectable schistosomiasis-associated morbidity?
• What are the optimal morbidity markers for S. mansoni and S. haematobium?
• What are the optimal species-specific morbidity goals for which schistosomiasis control programs should be aiming?

To compare coverage evaluation methods to identify a method that is statistically rigorous and feasible for programs. This study will focus on assessing MDA coverage for lymphatic filariasis by comparing the cost, time and feasibility of 3 different methods: the EPI approach (n=1768), LQAS design (n=95) and probability sampling alternatives (n=1768).

Primary Findings and Lessons Learned

Coverage surveys are an important tool for programs to evaluate their reporting systems and to determine whether effective MDA coverage has been achieved. However, for various reasons coverage surveys are seldom implemented.  Some key challenges are: perceived technical difficulty, lack of resources, and lack of standardized guidance on how to conduct coverage surveys.  This protocol seeks to address the 1st and 3rd points by comparing the feasibility of three different coverage survey methods (EPI approach, LQAS, and segmentation).     This study was completed in 3 districts in Burkina Faso.  All 3 districts found that their survey coverage was above the WHO target threshold (65% for LF).  Furthermore, in all 3 cases the survey coverage validated (or nearly validated) the reported coverage. Taken together this suggests that the Burkina Faso program is working well.   The feasibility results found all 3 methods to be very similar with regards to time, cost and perceived difficulty.  Because only the segmentation approach results in a probability sample, this method was recommended by the M&E Working Group and ultimately approved by the STAG.  Since the approval, significant work has been underway to create guidelines for conducting coverage surveys for preventive chemotherapy.  An excel tool was created to improve the usability of the tool and online learning modules are currently in the works.

Haiti, like many other countries, has made considerable progress in the elimination of lymphatic filariasis. To date, 118 out of 140 communes have passed TAS and stopped MDA. However, little is understood about why some communes have persistent transmission despite five or more rounds of MDA. The proposed study aims to identify alternative approaches to MDA that may help to increase access, uptake, and coverage, particularly for individuals who typically do not comply with MDAs. This cluster-randomized design will test a novel approach (door to door strategy) against the standard health post-based delivery method. Additionally, the study aims to identify non-compliant individuals and better understand their reasons for non-participation. Furthermore, a cost analysis will be undertaken as part of this study to understand the potential implications for the country program should the door-to-door strategy prove effective in reaching higher numbers of people.

This study builds on the methods developed for the operational studies ongoing in Ghana and Burkina Faso. The first two research questions are the same as those earlier studies with two new questions added here- question 3 on triple drug therapy (ivermectin, DEC, albendazole – IDA) and 4 on the use of a new rapid ethnography approach.

1. What factors are associated with effective (and lower) MDA coverage as defined as availability, accessibility, and acceptability in settings that have repeatedly failed Pre-TAS?
2. What is the impact of an adapted and tailored intervention package on achieving effective coverage?
3. What messages and community engagement approaches are needed to ensure the acceptability of IDA triple drug therapy in Nepal?
4. How does the rapid ethnography approach compare to more traditional qualitative analysis methods in terms of cost, timeliness, and ability to provide required information for programmatic decisions? Can local capacity for use of this approach be built rapidly?

To compare the performance of antigen (FTS) and antibody (Wb123 monoplex) tools in programmatic settings (TAS).

Preliminary Findings and Lessons Learned

The goal of this study is to compare the performance of antigen (FTS) and antibody (Wb123 monoplex, Wb123 ELISA, multiplex) tools in programmatic settings (TAS). In order to strengthen the existing TAS platform we need to better understand which diagnostic indicator(s) are best-suited for making programmatic decisions. The TAS was conducted in Trou de Nord and Plaisance EUs.  Both EUs passed the TAS, but positive FTS were identified (4 and 2, respectively). However the Wb123 RDT found ZERO positive children, of the over 2000 tested. While the Wb123 ELISA testing is still ongoing, this initial result agrees with findings from other studies, all of which suggest that the Wb123 RDT is too insensitive a tool to be of programmatic use.

1. To evaluate strategies for the elimination of trachoma by evaluating potential makers that show interruption of transmission of C. trachomatis
2. To determine the prevalence of ocular chlamydial infection among children aged 1 – 9 years old in Mpwapwa and Kalambo District, Tanzania
3. To determine the associated risk factors of ocular Chlamydia infection among children aged 1 – 9 years old in Mpwapwa and Kalambo District, Tanzania
4. To determine the usability of antibody test to detect Chlamydia antigen pgp3 using lateral flow assay
5. To examine the longevity of the antibody response to trachoma antigens in a high and low-prevalence setting

To determine if a standardized multi-parallel-PCR assay is a more sensitive diagnostic tool for detecting Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Schistosoma mansoni prevalence compared to the Kato-Katz stool test.

One of important pillar of Trachoma elimination as a public health problem is to manage through epilation and surgery trachomatous trichiasis (TT) to reach in endemic district less than 0.1% of TT prevalence or less than 0.2% prevalence in adults of 15 years and older. However, surveys in 3 districts of Tanzania where numbers of TT surgeries were performed showed an unexpected higher prevalence despite intervention. This mixed methods study will help to address the main question as to why trachoma impact surveys demonstrating unexpectedly high TT prevalence in communities where TT surgical intervention is ongoing and how could this intervention/burden gap be addressed? The aim is to look at the case finding techniques effectiveness in all the communities and factors that affect TT referral and quality surgical services.

Comparison of different diagnostic tools during onchocerciasis mapping, including Ov16 ELISA, OV16 rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and skin snip test.

To compare results from Brugia Rapid tests (in 3 districts) and FTS (in 2 districts) with Wb123 rapid tests and Wb123 and Bm14 ELISA testing.

Preliminary Findings

• In March and April 2017, NIMPE had organized teams to go to the field to collect samples. In Duy Tien district, all of 20 primary schools were visited and 320 pupils were tested. In Quang Ninh district, all of 21 primary schools were visited and 323 students participated in the survey. In Le Thuy district, 35 of 38 primary schools were visited and 344 pupils had blood samples taken. 

• In total, 987 serum samples were collected but one sample was ran out of serum after doing quick tests (Brugia rapid and FTS). Finally, 986 samples were collected for the antibodies test. The serum samples were kept in frieze (-20 0 C) until analysis. Base on the cut–off 0.096 that was calculated by CDC, no positive case was found by this technique.

• Wb123 testing was applied in all three districts to detect W. bancrofti antibody. All 986 samples were tested, but no positive case was found. This result did not indicate that the Wb123 testing accuracy is equivalent to FTS but did show that no cross action with B. malayi and other parasites was found within the study. 

• All 986 serum samples that collected from the three districts in the Mini TAS were tested by Bm14 to detect B.malayi antibody. No positive case was recorded and this result was comparable to the result from Brugia rapid test.

• Following these data, the researchers supposed that the ELISA testing could be comparable to the quick testing with regards to accuracy. However, since no positive case was found and we could not conclude about the sensitivity and the specificity of the test. Therefore, a further study should be continued especially in endemic areas in which possibly can find some positive cases for assessment and conclusion.

To investigate the utility of an antibody test as a tool for surveillance during the elimination phase of trachoma programmes

To determine whether there is LF transmission in Cotonou and Porto-Novo, which are the two main urban locations of Benin where the LF status is undetermined. A study will be conducted to evaluate the prevalence of LF using antigenemia and antibody testing (FTS and Wb123). An entomological survey will be implemented to understand the dynamic of LF transmission and potential barriers to LF MDA in urban settings. 

This study is piloting the Supervisor's Coverage Tool (formerly the Coverage Supervision Tool, or CST) approach that is meant to provide a platform for district- and sub-district-level supervisors to monitor the success of the last MDA. It is meant to be conducted at the sub-district level two weeks following MDA and provides a pass/fail result regarding whether the target coverage threshold was met. It is designed as a quick and inexpensive in-process monitoring tool for use by sub-national level NTD management teams/supervisors to help improve or maintain the success of future MDA rounds.

To validate thresholds for stopping MDA and improve confidence that elimination goals have been achieved through post-MDA surveillance.