Field sensitivity and specificity of the SD BIOLINE onchocerciasis IgG4 Rapid Diagnostic Test in children <10 years old from endemic areas in Burkina Faso.

Skin biopsies (Skin snips) have historically been the gold standard for the diagnosis of onchocerciasis. However, in low prevalence areas and in areas with successful ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) programs, skin snips are not sensitive enough to decide when to stop MDA; thus, serological diagnostic tools have been recommended for this purpose. This study assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the Ov16 Rapid Diagnostic Test (SD BIOLINE Onchocerciasis RDT) compared to skin snip in endemic areas undergoing ivermectin mass distribution using Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) strategy. A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and November 2016 in five endemic villages in the Cascades region in Burkina Faso. Children aged 2 to 9-years were examined during the impact epidemiological survey using both the skin snip and Ov16 Rapid Diagnostic Test. The Ov16 Rapid Diagnostic Test sensitivity and specificity were determined with reference to the skin biopsy. Skin snip positivity was 1.25% in this population, while seroprevalence was 6.5%. When compared to the skin snip as the gold standard, the sensitivity of the Ov16 Rapid Diagnostic Test was 60% and the specificity 94%. When the Ov16 Rapid Diagnostic Test was considered as the gold standard, the skin snip exhibited a sensitivity of 11.5% and a specificity of 99.5%. These results are similar to other studies comparing the performance of the Ov16 ELISA to skin snips, suggesting that the Ov16 RDT may be a useful tool for ivermectin STOP MDA and post transmission surveys, assuming that the prevalence of infection is low or close to zero, and the Ov16 RDT detected also pre patent infections.

Mass drug administration targeting Onchocerca volvulus in Owabi catchment area in Ashanti Region, Ghana: Determinants of drug coverage and drug uptake.

INTRODUCTION: Achieving high Mass Drug Administration (MDA) coverage and drug uptake are pivotal in the efforts to eradicate onchocerciasis. The present study investigated the extent and predictors of ivermectin MDA coverage and uptake from the individual and healthcare providers' perspectives. The extent of ivermectin distribution and uptake, and the predictors of distribution and uptake were investigated in endemic communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to October 2019 in communities within the Atwima Nwabiagya North District. A total of 2008 respondents were interviewed. Data was collected with REDCap mobile App which had an electronic version of the structured questionnaire. Descriptive data was presented in frequency tables, and bivariate and multivariate logistics regression analysis were performed to measure the associations between exposure variables and outcome variables which were received and uptake of MDA drugs. RESULTS: A total of 1284 (63.9%) respondents did not receive ivermectin during the 2019 MDA programme and more than half of them were not aware of the drug distribution (53.3%). The most common reasons for not ingesting the drug were fear of side effects (47.7%) and not trusting the drug distributors (20.0%). Respondents in the age group 48-57 years (AOR = 1.37; 95%CI: 1.01-2.67), Persons in the high wealth index (AOR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.11-1.77), Being aware of the MDA programme (AOR = 6.67: 95%CI: 4.76-9.35), MDA being beneficial (AOR = 2.12; 95%CI: 1.54-2.92) participating in previous MDA (AOR = 5.44; 95%CI: 4.25-6.98) and having stayed in the communities for 10 years and above significantly increased the odds of receiving MDA drugs. Previous uptake of MDA drugs (AOR = 10.58; 95%CI: 5.78-19.38) and perception of the MDA drug as beneficial (AOR = 5.25; 95%CI: 2.55-10.82) increased the likelihood of ingesting drugs when received. CONCLUSION: The main health system challenge was limited awareness creation regarding MDA. This seems to affect the optimal utilization of the ivermectin MDA intervention. MDA programmes against onchocerciasis eradication should be designed taking into account specific contextual factors to improve implementation outcomes.

Prevalence of onchocerciasis, attitudes and practices and the treatment coverage after 15 years of mass drug administration with ivermectin in the Tombel Health District, Cameroon.

INTRODUCTION: Onchocerciasis is an infection caused by Onchocerca volvulus. It affects 37 million people of which 99% are in Africa. This study assessed the prevalence of onchocerciasis after 15 years of mass drug administration with ivermectin. METHODS: This was a population based cross sectional study. Questionnaires covering participants' identity and attitudes and practices of community respondents towards ivermectin were administered. The treatment coverage was obtained by review of records of mass drug administration from 1999 to 2015. The epidemiological evaluation of infection status was done by parasitological examination of skin snips and nodule palpation in individuals in five health areas of the district. RESULTS: A total of 400 participants were randomly selected. Of these, 56.0% were males, 62.0% single, 59.5% farmers and 98.0% Christians. Participants with good attitudes towards community directed treatment with ivermectin made up 80.5% while 47.8% of the participants had good practice. The highest treatment coverage achieved was 88.0% in 2010 while lowest was 57.0% in 2002. Less than 2% had microfilaria and 6.0% had nodules. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of microfilaria with respect to age. There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of nodules (χ2=73.6, p=0.001) among the different age groups. The greatest rate of infection (2.1%) was among farmers. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the prevalence reduced compared to other prevalence studies in Cameroon. The study area was hypo-endemic for onchocerciasis.

Analysis of severe adverse effects following community-based ivermectin treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

BACKGROUND: The progress of mass, community-directed, treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) for onchocerciasis control was disrupted by severe adverse effects (SAE) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study aimed at determining the frequency of post-CDTI SAE as well as factors associated with the occurrence of SAE. METHODS: Our retrospective study relied on SAE collection cards, as archived by the DRC Ministry of Health, and compiled for people who benefited from ivermectin treatment then further developed SAE. The study included 945 post-CDTI SAE recorded in DRC between 2003 and 2017. These cases occurred in 15 projects out of 22 projects implemented in the country. All cards were reviewed and analysed. RESULTS: Between the years 2003 and 2017, the total average population treated was around 15,552,588 among which 945 cases of SAE were registered in DR Congo, i.e. 6 cases of SAE for 100,000 persons treated per year. 55 deaths related to post-CDTI SAE were recorded, which represents 5.8% of all cases of SAE. Non-neurological SAE were dominated by severe headaches (74.8%), myalgia (64.0%) and arthralgia (62.7%). Neurological SAE were mainly coma (94.1%), motor deficit (75.4%) and palpebral subconjunctival haemorrhages (38.8%). Factors associated with the occurrence of SAE were: male, age over 18 years old, alcohol consumption, hemp intake and the presence of loiasis. The study also highlighted weaknesses of the National Program for Onchocerciasis Control (NPOC)  in terms of awareness campaigns among the population. CONCLUSION: Co-endemicity of loiasis and onchocerciasis is one of the key factors responsible for the occurrence of SAE following ivermectin treatment. Mobilization of resources necessary to the appropriate management of SAE and awareness of populations are essential to achieve onchocerciasis control in DRC.

Impact of five annual rounds of mass drug administration with ivermectin on onchocerciasis in Sierra Leone.

BACKGROUND: Onchocerciasis is endemic in 12 of the 14 health districts of Sierra Leone. Good treatment coverage of community-directed treatment with ivermectin was achieved between 2005 and 2009 after the 11-year civil conflict. Sentinel site surveys were conducted in 2010 to evaluate the impact of five annual rounds of ivermectin distribution. METHODS: In total, 39 sentinel villages from hyper- and meso-endemic areas across the 12 endemic districts were surveyed using skin snips in 2010. Results were analyzed and compared with the baseline data from the same 39 villages. RESULTS: The average microfilaridermia (MF) prevalence across 39 sentinel villages was 53.10% at baseline. The MF prevalence was higher in older age groups, with the lowest in the age group of 1-9 years (11.00%) and the highest in the age group of 40-49 years (82.31%). Overall mean MF density among the positives was 28.87 microfilariae (mf)/snip, increasing with age with the lowest in the age group of 1-9 years and the highest in the age group of 40-49 years. Males had higher MF prevalence and density than females. In 2010 after five rounds of mass drug administration, the overall MF prevalence decreased by 60.26% from 53.10% to 21.10%; the overall mean MF density among the positives decreased by 71.29% from 28.87 mf/snip to 8.29 mf/snip; and the overall mean MF density among all persons examined decreased by 88.58% from 15.33 mf/snip to 1.75 mf/snip. Ten of 12 endemic districts had > 50% reduction in MF prevalence. Eleven of 12 districts had ≥50% reduction in mean MF density among the positives. CONCLUSIONS: A significant reduction of onchocerciasis MF prevalence and mean density was recorded in all 12 districts of Sierra Leone after five annual MDAs with effective treatment coverage. The results suggested that the onchocerciasis elimination programme in Sierra Leone was on course to reach the objective of eliminating onchocerciasis in the country by the year 2025. Annual MDA with ivermectin should continue in all 12 districts and further evaluations are needed across the country to assist the NTDP with programme decision making.

Factors affecting community participation in the CDTI program in Morogoro, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Up to 4 million people in Tanzania are at risk for the parasitic disease onchocerciasis. A treatment program, Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI), has made significant gains in prevention and treatment. Understanding factors affecting participation could help boost treatment coverage and sustain gains made in controlling onchocerciasis in endemic areas. PURPOSE: To explore community-perceived factors related to participation in and sustainability of the CDTI program in southwest Tanzania. METHODS: Multilevel triangulation design using surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), and semistructured interviews to collect data in two villages in the Morogoro Rural District of Tanzania. In total, 456 villagers participated in the survey and 42 in FDGs. Five community-directed distributors (CDDs) and three community health workers were interviewed. FINDINGS: High levels of awareness of onchocerciasis (90%) and methods of prevention and treatment (95%) were reported. Over 75% of participants knew how ivermectin was distributed and 74% have taken the drug. Over 90% of villagers knew that distribution of the drug was for treatment and prevention. Only 43% knew the cause of onchocerciasis. Through FGDs, villagers reported barriers to participation, including lack of comprehensive understanding of the disease, fears of medication, distrust of the method determining dose, lack of health education materials, insufficient CDD-resident communication, and inflexible drug distribution mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Sustaining programs without supporting growth of CDDs and reinforcing education of communities could lead to a decrease in treatment and an increase in the public health threat. This research uncovered a need for more effective community education and sensitization. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Understanding barriers to participation in community-based programs can assist public health and community health nurses and key stakeholders including Ministries of Health and local and regional health systems in the development of education and support materials to enhance health literacy and encourage program participation.

Onchocerciasis control in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): challenges in a post-war environment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate onchocerciasis control activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the first 12 years of community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI). METHODS: Data from the National Programme for Onchocerciasis (NPO) provided by the National Onchocerciasis Task Force (NOTF) through the annual reports of the 21 CDTI projects for the years 2001-2012 were reviewed retrospectively. A hypothetical-inputs-process-outputs-outcomes table was constructed. RESULTS: Community-directed treatment with ivermectin expanded from 1968 communities in 2001 to 39 100 communities by 2012 while the number of community-directed distributors (CDD) and health workers (HW) multiplied. By 2012, there were ratios of 1 CDD per 262 persons and 1 HW per 2318 persons at risk. More than 80% of the funding came from the fiduciary funds of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control. The cost of treatment per person treated fell from US$ 1.1 in 2001 to US$ 0.1 in 2012. The therapeutic coverage increased from 2.7% (2001) to 74.2% (2012); the geographical coverage, from 4.7% (2001) to 93.9% (2012). Geographical coverage fell in 2005 due to deaths in loiasis co-endemic areas, and the therapeutic coverage fell in 2008 due to insecurity. CONCLUSIONS: Challenges to CDTI in DRC have been serious adverse reactions to ivermectin in loiasis co-endemic areas and political conflict. Targets for personnel or therapeutic and geographical coverages were not met. Longer term funding and renewed efforts are required to achieve control and elimination of onchocerciasis in DRC.

Health promotion and cardiovascular disease prevention in sub-Saharan Africa.

Recent population studies demonstrate an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The mitigation or reversal of this trend calls for effective health promotion and preventive interventions. In this article, we review the core principles, challenges, and progress in promoting cardiovascular health with special emphasis on interventions to address physical inactivity, poor diet, tobacco use, and adverse cardiometabolic risk factor trends in SSA. We focus on the five essential strategies of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Successes highlighted include community-based interventions in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Mauritius and school-based programs in Kenya, Namibia, and Swaziland. We address the major challenge of developing integrated interventions, and showcase partnerships opportunities. We conclude by calling for intersectoral partnerships for effective and sustainable intervention strategies to advance cardiovascular health promotion and close the implementation gap in accordance with the 2009 Nairobi Call to Action on Health Promotion.