The repository for NTD operational research studies

1. Can the O-150 LAMP assay be established on whole blood? 2. Can the O-150 qPCR methodology be adapted for human sampling?

Secondary

1. How does the performance of the O-150 LAMP compare to the O-150 qPCR assay?

2. What threshold be used to define positive vs negative results for both assays?

3. Can deep sequencing reveal over potential biomarkers for further investigation?

• An Ov16/OVOC3261 biplex IgG4 test, whereby we are confident that we can provide > 60% sensitivity and 99.8% specificity, as required by the TPP for Onchocerciasis Elimination Mapping.
• Demonstration that the Ov16/OVOC3261 biplex IgG4 test behaves at least as good with blood as with plasma/serum samples (notably a perceived weakness of the SD Ov16 RDT)

1. Can MDA resume and achieve high performance while minimizing risk of COVID-19 transmission through adherence to SOPs?

2. Can local teams easily implement the recommended modifications to MDAs; what is the added cost; and how do the above vary by context?

3. What aspects of local context influence implementation of SOPs?

Urban dwellers have frequently been included as "hard to reach" when examining MDA coverage and uptake. Poor coverage in urban settings is a key factor that prevents programs in some settings from achieving success. This research study proposes a community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) strategy to better understand the reasons why this population isn’t reached and/or their decision not to participate in onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis MDAs. The results will help identify last mile strategies for urban populations and will generate a technical toolkit for how to conduct rapid participatory research in areas that require novel outreach methods amongst hard-to-reach populations. This form of social science methodology has not been used frequently within the NTD community and this proposal offers an opportunity to build the evidence base for these methods within the context of hard to reach populations.

The researchers plan to conduct a number of activities in order to determine the effectiveness of the participatory approach in targeting urban populations as compared to the standard mobilization and delivery approach.

1. Rapid ethnographic interviews, a new technique aimed at rapidly collecting and analyzing qualitative data, to gather community feedback regarding barriers in accessing treatment
2. An intervention development workshop with community leaders, health workers, researchers, and the ministry of health
3. Deliver the newly designed strategy in Za-Kpota district and compare coverage in urban settings to Ouinhi district
4. Finalize a rapid participatory approach toolkit and conduct a time-motion study of the approach to improve the business case to the MoH for uptake 5. Surveys and individual interviews with key stakeholders to determine acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the proposed approach and toolkit

Can geospatial algorithms be used by disease programs to help identify hotspots at community and Implementation Unit level?

To develop and pilot a standardised analytical framework for the spatial and temporal analysis of routinely collected gender disaggregated NTD programme data. This will allow increased understanding and spatial visualisation of the influence of gendered programmatic inputs, external geographic and social factors on the equity of programmatic outputs, particularly access to mass administration of medicines (MAM).

1. Can MDA resume and achieve high performance while minimizing risk of COVID-19 transmission through adherence to SOPs?

2. Can local teams easily implement the recommended modifications to MDAs; what is the added cost; and how do the above vary by context?

3. What aspects of local context influence implementation of SOPs?

To study the feasibility of LF and Oncho (Filariases) integrated transmission assessment survey iTAS) according to both LF and Onchocerciasis WHO elimination guidelines

• Is mobile outreach with a doxycycline test and treat strategy (TTd) an effective strategy in reducing onchocerciasis prevalence and intensity of infection amongst hard-to-reach nomadic groups in Massangam health area (HA)?
• What is the variation in prevalence of onchocerciasis and intensity of infection (community microfilaria load (CML)) in the different age and sex groups of hard-to-reach nomad community in the Massangam HA?
• What was the coverage of ivermectin mass drug administration in the nomad population with respect to the last round of ivermectin MDA?
• What is the cost of the mobile outreach strategy in this context, per person screened and treated?

Innovative approach to exploit ongoing STH- SCH survey to conduct integrated surveillance for LF and oncho that will serve as a model for other programs