ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Large scale administration of the anthelminthic drug praziquantel (PZQ) to at-risk populations is the cornerstone of schistosomiasis control, although persisting high prevalence of infections in some areas and growing concerns of PZQ resistance have revealed the limitations of this strategy. Most studies assessing PZQ efficacy have used relatively insensitive parasitological diagnostics, such as the Kato-Katz (KK) and urine-filtration methods, thereby overestimating cure rates (CRs). This study aims to determine the efficacy of repeated PZQ treatments against Schistosoma mansoni infection in school-aged children in Côte d'Ivoire using the traditional KK technique, as well as more sensitive antigen- and DNA-detection methods. METHODS: An open-label, randomised controlled trial will be conducted in school-aged children (5 to 18 years) from the region of Taabo, Côte d'Ivoire, an area endemic for S. mansoni. This 8-week trial includes four two-weekly standard doses of PZQ in the "intense treatment" intervention group and one standard dose of PZQ in the "standard treatment" control group. The efficacy of PZQ will be evaluated in stool samples using the KK technique and real-time PCR as well as in urine using the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen test and the up-converting phosphor, lateral flow, circulating anodic antigen assay. The primary outcome of the study will be the difference in CR of intense versus standard treatment with PZQ on individuals with a confirmed S. mansoni infection measured by KK. Secondary outcomes include the difference in CR and intensity reduction rate between the intense and standard treatment groups as measured by the other diagnostic tests, as well as the accuracy of the different diagnostic tests, and the safety of PZQ. DISCUSSION: This study will provide data on the efficacy of repeated PZQ treatment on the clearance of S. mansoni as measured by several diagnostic techniques. These findings will inform future mass drug administration policy and shed light on position of novel diagnostic tools to evaluate schistosomiasis control strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at EudraCT (2016-003017-10, date of registration: 22 July 2016) and ( NCT02868385 , date of registration: 16 August 2016).
Subject(s)
Anthelmintics/administration & dosage , Anthelmintics/therapeutic use , Praziquantel/administration & dosage , Praziquantel/therapeutic use , Schistosomiasis/drug therapy , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Cote d'Ivoire , HumansABSTRACT
A study was carried out in the village of Taabo, located in the vicinity of a large man-made lake in central Côte d'Ivoire. The objectives were (i) to determine the level of prevalence, genetic diversity and multiplicity of Plasmodiumfakiparum infection in schoolchildren and (ii) to compare the diagnostic performance of light microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 424 schoolchildren ranging in age from 5 to 15 years underwent diagnostic testing using both light microscopy of blood smears and PCR. Multiplicity of P. falciparum infection was investigated in 196 children (46.2%). The prevalence of malaria was 54.7% based on light microscopy and 83.9% based on PCR. Genotyping based on polymorphism in the length of the restriction fragment of the gene encoding the merozoite surface protein-2 (msp2) showed that 86.5% of cases involved multiple infection with a geometric mean of 3.87 genotypes per positive child. There was a strong positive correlation between multipcity of infection and parasite density in the 56-year old age group. A total of 50 genotypes including six observed for the first time were identified and classified into families with similar-sized sequence groups: 26 x FC27 (52%) and 24 x 3D7 (48%). In comparison with PCR, the sensitivity and specificity of light microscopy for diagnosis of P. falciparum was 81.3% and 88.2% respectively. Data are discussed in the light of similar studies carried out in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere. These findings can serve as a basis for monitoring the longterm effect of major water resource management projects on the prevalence, genetic diversity and multiplicity of P. falciparum infection.
Subject(s)
Genetic Variation , Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology , Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology , Plasmodium falciparum/genetics , Adolescent , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Cote d'Ivoire/epidemiology , Humans , Prevalence , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
Une etude a ete conduite a Taabo - village; localite rurale du centre de la Cote d'Ivoire; situee a proximite d'un gra n d lac artificiel. Les objectifs etaient (i) de determiner le taux d'endemicite du paludisme; la diversite antigenique et la multiplicite des infections a Plasmodium falciparum au sein d'ecoliers; et (ii) de comparer la performance du diagnostic microscopique a celle de la reaction de polymerisation en chaine (PCR). Au total; 424 eleves ages de 5 a 15 ans ont eu des examens de sang au microscope et par PCR. La multiplicite d'infection a porte sur 196 (46;2) d'entre eux. L'indice plasmodique detecte au micro s c o p e est de 54;7et de 83;9par PCR. Les typages genotypiques determines par le polymorphisme des longueurs de fragments de restriction du gene respon sable des proteines de surface-2 du mero zoite (m s p 2); ont revele 86;5de cas d'infections multipes; avec une moyenne geometrique de 3;87 genotypes par individu positif. Une correlation positive significative a ete obtenue entre a multiplicite et les densites parasitaires au sein du groupe d'age 5-6 ans. 50 genotypes dont six observes pour la premiere fois ont ete denombres puis classes en familles de tailles similaires FC27 (n=26 ; 52) et 3D7 (n=24 ; 48). Compare a la PCR; la microscopie a montre une sensibilite et une specificite respectivement de 81;3et 88;2. Nos donnees sont discutees au regard d'etudes similaires en Afrique sub-saharienne et ailleurs; et peuvent servir de base a long terme pour l'evaluation d'impact des grands amenagements d'eau sur la prevalence; la diversite antigenique et la multiplicite des infections a P. fal c i p a ru m
