Article
Immunology
Joseph Pryce, Lisa J. Reimer
Summary: The study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, showing the clear potential of MX as a tool for detecting LF-infected communities and predicting human mf prevalence. The results indicated that MX had high sensitivity and a linear relationship with human mf prevalence within a certain range. Factors such as mosquito sample size and mf prevalence were found to be important in influencing MX results.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Hugo C. Turner, Eric A. Ottesen, Mark H. Bradley
Summary: This study indicates that significant health benefits have been achieved from the first 20 years of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF). It is important to note that the GPELF has additional benefits beyond what can be quantified by the DALY burden metric, and it also has benefits on other co-endemic diseases, making the overall health benefit underestimated.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Charles D. Mackenzie, Sunny Mante
Summary: LF is a debilitating and disfiguring medical condition with severe psychosocial consequences, and global efforts have been made in the past 20 years to provide care and surgical treatment for patients. However, challenges such as stigma, resource provision, and maintaining programme support have hindered the full implementation of patient care within GPELF.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Biology
Mary M. Cameron, Anita Ramesh
Summary: This article examines how molecular xenomonitoring (MX) can be best utilized for various purposes, emphasizing the need to consider disease targets, mosquito and pathogen characteristics, and background factors in MX system design. While currently used as a supplement to human surveillance, MX may become a more significant tool in early warning systems for emerging infectious diseases and integrated disease surveillance systems.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hugo C. Turner
Summary: The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis aims to eliminate the disease as a public health problem, with multiple studies showing that the mass drug administration (MDA) provided by the programme is cost-effective and generates significant economic benefits. While there are still gaps in research that need further exploration, overall, independent studies consistently estimate GPELF to be cost-effective and provide notable economic benefits.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Alexander Kwarteng, Augustina Sylverken, Ebenezer Asiedu, Samuel Terkper Ahuno
Summary: Filarial infections are vector-borne nematode infections with high prevalence in developing countries, causing severe disabilities and a cycle of poverty and disease. Global initiatives to eradicate these infections face challenges in mass treatments, vector control, and vaccine development. Integration of genome editing techniques in future control strategies offers the best option for eliminating filarial infections.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Ameyo Monique Dorkenoo, Adjaho Koba, Wemboo A. Halatoko, Minongblon Teko, Komlan Kossi, Kossi Yakpa, Rachel N. Bronzan
Summary: A study in Togo showed that while the Wb123 ELISA may have limitations in surveillance for lymphatic filariasis, there is still a need to develop a reliable test for post-elimination surveillance.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eric A. Ottesen, John Horton
Summary: The development of the World Health Organization's Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) involved a multi-faceted approach, with a focus on health and economic factors, responsible individuals and organizations, as well as critical requirements and hurdles to successfully construct the program. The program was launched with the recognition of the potential for LF elimination by the global health community, supported by donations from pharmaceutical companies and resource support from public and private sectors and health ministries in endemic countries.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kebede Deribe, Didier K. Bakajika, Honorat Marie-Gustave Zoure, John O. Gyapong, David H. Molyneux, Maria P. Rebollo
Summary: Significant progress has been made in the LF program in Africa. Challenges remain, but the region has achieved success in eliminating LF. The trajectory of coverage and treatment has accelerated, with increasing geographical coverage and efforts towards Africa free of LF.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julie Jacobson
Summary: This article discusses the accelerated development and introduction of a new drug therapy for lymphatic filariasis (LF) through collaboration between multiple partners. By condensing the development timeline and maintaining safety standards, the partners were able to significantly reduce the time it takes for a new innovation in public health to be introduced into national programs. The importance of stakeholder engagement, good communication, and prioritizing activities were highlighted in this process. This case provides insights into how global health can work together in new ways to accelerate interventions and strategies for promoting health and well-being.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Monique Ameyo Dorkenoo, Martin Kouame Tchankoni, Degninou Yehadji, Kossi Yakpa, Maweke Tchalim, Efoe Sossou, Rachel Bronzan, Didier Koumavi Ekouevi
Summary: The study aimed to identify the risk posed by migrant groups, with nomadic Peuhls found to have the highest potential risk for reintroduction of LF into Togo. Despite an overall CFA prevalence of 4.2%, periodic monitoring of migrants, especially the nomadic Peuhl population, is suggested as a potential post-validation surveillance approach to promptly detect any LF cluster that may arise.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sammy M. Njenga, Henry M. Kanyi, Cassian M. Mwatele, Dunstan A. Mukoko, Moses J. Bockarie, Louise A. Kelly-Hope
Summary: Integrated epidemiological surveys using standard parasitological and entomological methods can provide useful information on co-endemic parasitic diseases, which could help direct interventions and surveillance activities.
Article
Parasitology
Thirumal Sankari, Swaminathan Subramanian, Subhash L. Hoti, Subhada P. Pani, Purushothaman Jambulingam, Pradeep K. Das
Summary: The study found individual variations in response to DEC, with 65.2% of individuals showing no response in the 12-month post-treatment period. Treatment response was independent of age, gender, and time, with overall response increasing in low microfilariae density categories and decreasing in high density categories. Random coefficient estimates showed greater variability in response between individuals over time post-treatment. These results emphasize the importance of studying host genetic factors associated with DEC action.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Patrick J. Lammie, Katherine M. Gass, Jonathan King, Michael S. Deming, David G. Addiss, Gautam Biswas, Eric A. Ottesen, Ralph Henderson
Summary: The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) has achieved remarkable success in eliminating LF as a public health problem by implementing a rigorous monitoring and evaluation framework, modifying strategies based on practical experiences, and fostering strong partnerships among researchers, LF programme managers, and supportive donors.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Bhupendra Tripathi, Nupur Roy, Neeraj Dhingra
Summary: India has 670 million people at risk of contracting lymphatic filariasis, accounting for 40% of global cases. The country adopted a single-drug therapy in 2004, followed by a two-drug therapy. In 2017, a new triple-drug therapy was endorsed by the World Health Organization. India began implementing this protocol in five districts in 2018 to accelerate the elimination of lymphatic filariasis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alison Krentel, Nandha Basker, Madsen Beau de Rochars, Joshua Bogus, Daniel Dilliott, Abdel N. Direny, Christine Dubray, Peter U. Fischer, Adriani Lomi Ga, Charles W. Goss, Myra Hardy, Cade Howard, Purushothaman Jambulingam, Christopher L. King, Moses Laman, Jean Frantz Lemoine, Shruti Mallya, Leanne J. Robinson, Josaia Samuela, Ken B. Schechtman, Andrew C. Steer, Taniawati Supali, Livingstone Tavul, Gary J. Weil
Summary: The study assessed the acceptability of ivermectin, DEC, and albendazole (IDA) compared to the standard treatment of DEC and albendazole (DA) for lymphatic filariasis elimination in Fiji, Haiti, India, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Results showed that there was no difference in acceptability between the two treatment regimens, with country variation being the most significant factor. Professionalism in treatment delivery was highlighted as an important aspect of acceptability in all countries.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Purushothaman Jambulingam, Vijesh Sreedhar Kuttiatt, Kaliannagounder Krishnamoorthy, Subramanian Swaminathan, Adinarayanan Srividya, Hari Kishan K. Raju, Manju Rahi, Roopali K. Somani, Mallanna K. Suryaprakash, Gangeshwar P. Dwivedi, Gary J. Weil
Summary: This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of two different drug regimens, IDA and DA, in LF endemic villages in India. The results showed that IDA was more effective in clearing microfilariae from the blood, although the rate of adverse events was slightly higher compared to DA. Infected individuals, adults, and females had higher rates of adverse events during treatment. IDA was significantly more effective than DA in clearing microfilariae and reducing blood microfilaria counts, but neither treatment was effective in clearing circulating filarial antigenemia.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Candasamy Sadanandane, Ayyanar Elango, Devaraju Panneer, Kulandaisamy Athisaya Mary, Narendran Pradeep Kumar, Kummankottil P. Paily, Bhuwan Bhaskar Mishra, Thirumal Sankari, Purushothaman Jambulingam
Summary: The study revealed that Orientia tsutsugamushi, the causative agent of scrub typhus, is transmitted to humans in rural areas of Gorakhpur district, India, by the principal vector mite Leptotrombidium deliense, with peak incidence of cases coinciding with the peak abundance of the mite.
EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
N. Pradeep Kumar, Ashwani Kumar, D. Panneer, S. Abidha, S. Muthukumaravel, T. Sankari, P. M. Ajithlal, Jessu Mathew, Suhana Koothradan, R. Paramasivan, M. Muniyaraj, Himmat Singh, Rekha Saxena, P. Vijayachari, I. P. Sunish, A. N. Shriram, Prafulla Dutta, Saurav Jyoti Patgiri, D. R. Bhattacharyya, S. L. Hoti, D. Chattopadhyay, Subarna Roy, Namita Mahapatra, Sanghamitra Pati, Gyan Chand, A. K. Mishra, Pradip Barde, P. Jambulingam
Summary: The Indian Council of Medical Research conducted nationwide vector surveillance for Zika and Dengue viruses in India from 2016 to 2019. The results showed no active transmission of the American lineage-pandemic Zika virus in India during the study period.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Zoology
P. Jambulingam, R. Srinivasan, S. Gopalakrishnan
Summary: A cross-sectional survey identified the sand fly fauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with the predominant species being Se. (Neo.) barraudi. Se. (Neo.) gemmea and Se. (Neo.) quatei were new country records for India.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Purushothaman Jambulingam, Swaminathan Subramanian, Kaliannagounder Krishnamoorthy, Taniawati Supali, Peter Fischer, Christine Dubray, Carl Fayette, Jean Frantz Lemoine, Moses Laman, Christopher King, Josaia Samuela, Myra Hardy, Gary J. Weil
Summary: This article compiles summaries from lead investigators of large-scale safety and efficacy studies on mass drug administration of IDA in five countries, highlighting experiences, challenges, and successful responses.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Kasinathan Gunasekaran, Candasamy Sadanandane, Devaraju Panneer, Ashwani Kumar, Manju Rahi, Sundaram Dinesh, Balakrishnan Vijayakumar, Muthuraman Krishnaraja, Sarala K. Subbarao, Purushothaman Jambulingam
Summary: The study found that exposure to higher temperatures reduced the densities of wMel and wAlbB strains in Ae. aegypti larvae, especially in males. In simulated field conditions, high temperatures under sunlight caused larval mortality.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Candasamy Sadanandane, Kasinathan Gunasekaran, Devaraju Panneer, Sarala K. Subbarao, Manju Rahi, Balakrishnan Vijayakumar, Velan Athithan, Annamalai Sakthivel, Sundaram Dinesh, Purushothaman Jambulingam
Summary: Wolbachia, a symbiotic bacterium that interferes with dengue virus replication, has the potential to prevent dengue transmission. In laboratory experiments, Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes showed improved fitness and reproduction compared to uninfected mosquitoes, with high maternal transmission rate and strong cytoplasmic incompatibility. These findings support the pilot release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes for population replacement in the field.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ashwani Kumar, Hemanth Kumar, A. M. Manonmani, G. Prabakaran, B. Vijayakumar, A. Mathivanan, I Geetha, P. Jambulingam
Summary: The efficacy, application dosage, residual activity, and frequency of application of two mosquitocidal biosurfactants, surfactin (VCRC B471) and di-rhamnolipid (VCRC B426), in controlling Anopheles stephensi immatures in selected sites in Goa, India, were evaluated. The results showed that both biosurfactants were effective in reducing the density of immature mosquitoes for a duration of 14-18 days, with optimum application dosages of 51 mL/m(2) and 27 mL/m(2) for surfactin and di-rhamnolipid, respectively.
JOURNAL OF VECTOR BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Primary Health Care
Dinesh Raja Jeyapal, Ambikadevi Krishnakumari, Adinarayanan Srividya, Ashwani Kumar, Jambulingam Purushothaman
Summary: This study aims to investigate the sociodemographic details, clinical features, management, and probable sociobehavioural and environmental risk factors for the transmission of dengue in recovered cases. The results showed that lack of awareness about dengue and noncompliance with solid waste management and environmental sanitation among the public were major contributing factors to the spread of the disease.
JOURNAL OF FAMILY MEDICINE AND PRIMARY CARE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Krishnamoorthy Kaliannagounder, Subramanian Swaminathan, Srividya Adinarayanan, Vijesh Sreedhar Kuttiat, Weil J. Gary, Jambulingam Purushothaman
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Thirumal Sankari, Swaminathan Subramanian, Subhash L. Hoti, Subhada P. Pani, Purushothaman Jambulingam, Pradeep K. Das
Summary: The study found individual variations in response to DEC, with 65.2% of individuals showing no response in the 12-month post-treatment period. Treatment response was independent of age, gender, and time, with overall response increasing in low microfilariae density categories and decreasing in high density categories. Random coefficient estimates showed greater variability in response between individuals over time post-treatment. These results emphasize the importance of studying host genetic factors associated with DEC action.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)