Integrated Prevalence Assessment of Wuchereria bancrofti and Onchocerca volvulus in Three Co-Endemic Districts of Gambella Region, Ethiopia

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2023 Sep 11;109(4):844-849. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0392. Print 2023 Oct 4.

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis (OV) are among the neglected tropical diseases (NTD) targeted for elimination in Ethiopia. We used a transmission assessment survey (TAS-1) to evaluate the serological status of OV in three co-endemic districts in Gambella simultaneously. During May and June 2019, blood samples were collected from 6- to 7-year-old children who were randomly selected through standard community-based TAS methodology. Children were tested for both circulating filarial antigen (CFA) for LF via filariasis test strip and for Onchocerca volvulus 16 (Ov16) antibody for OV via laboratory-based ELISA. A total of 3,377 children from 150 villages in the three districts were tested; 1,823 (54.0%) were male. All three districts had CFA results below the critical threshold for stopping LF mass drug administration (MDA). In contrast, 40 children (1.2%) were positive for Ov16 antibody, well above the WHO's OV stop MDA threshold of 0.1%. The integrated assessment indicated two programmatic decisions: stop MDA for LF and continue MDA for OV. Accordingly, albendazole MDA was discontinued in the districts but ivermectin MDA continued. This integrated assessment showed that a random sample for TAS can give important information about OV transmission status in co-endemic areas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Albendazole
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Child
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial* / epidemiology
  • Ethiopia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ivermectin / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Neglected Diseases
  • Onchocerca volvulus*
  • Prevalence
  • Wuchereria bancrofti

Substances

  • Ivermectin
  • Albendazole
  • Antigens, Helminth