Publications by authors named "Maddison Howlett"
Objectives: The first round of triple-drug mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Samoa was in 2018. This study aims to i) examine progression of LF antigen (Ag) and microfilaria (Mf) in Ag-positive individuals from 2019-2023; and ii) compare Ag/Mf prevalence in household members of Mf-positive vs Mf-negative participants.
Methods: In 2023, we tested Ag-positive participants (indexes) from a 2019 survey in Samoa, and their household members.
Article Synopsis
- Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a serious neglected tropical disease that requires improved surveillance methods, and molecular xenomonitoring (MX) could help track the disease by detecting its DNA in mosquitoes.
- A study in Samoa compared the prevalence of microfilaraemia (Mf) in humans with the presence of PCR-positive mosquitoes in different communities.
- The results showed a correlation between the number of positive mosquitoes and human Mf prevalence, particularly with the mosquito species Aedes polynesiensis, indicating that MX could be a valuable tool in monitoring LF.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) against the current Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti, the parasite causing lymphatic filariasis, in field surveys conducted in Samoa.
- Results showed that both tests had similar Ag-positivity rates (29.0% for FTS and 30.2% for QFAT) with a high concordance of 93.6%.
- The QFAT was preferred by the field team for its ease of use, smaller blood volume requirement, and better readability, indicating it could be an effective alternative for LF monitoring.
Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) remains a significant global issue. To eliminate LF as a public health problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends multiple rounds of mass drug administration (MDA). In certain scenarios, including when elimination targets have not been met with two-drug MDA, triple-drug MDA (using ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) is recommended.
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