Can We Use Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis as a Surveillance Tool for National Trachoma Control Programs? Results from a District Survey

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Sheila K WestDiana L Martin

Abstract

Trachoma is targeted for elimination by 2020. World Health Organization advises districts to undertake surveillance when follicular trachoma (TF) <5% in children 1-9 years and mass antibiotic administration has ceased. There is a question if other tools could be used for surveillance as well. We report data from a test for antibodies to C. trachomatis antigen pgp3 as a possible tool. We randomly sampled 30 hamlets in Kilosa district, Tanzania, and randomly selected 50 children ages 1-9 per hamlet. The tarsal conjunctivae were graded for trachoma (TF), tested for C. trachomatis infection (Aptima Combo2 assay: Hologic, San Diego, CA), and a dried blood spot processed for antibodies to C. trachomatis pgp3 using a multiplex bead assay on a Luminex 100 platform. The prevalence of trachoma (TF) was 0.4%, well below the <5% indicator for re-starting a program. Infection was also low, 1.1%. Of the 30 hamlets, 22 had neither infection nor TF. Antibody positivity overall was low, 7.5% and increased with age from 5.2% in 1-3 year olds, to 9.3% in 7-9 year olds (p = 0.015). In 16 of the 30 hamlets, no children ages 1-3 years had antibodies to pgp3. The antibody status of the 1-3 year olds indicates low cumulative exposure to infection duri...Continue Reading

References

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Apr 24, 2014·BMC Infectious Diseases·Erica Brook GoodhewDiana L Martin

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Citations

Oct 27, 2016·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Athumani M RamadhaniMatthew J Burton
Feb 19, 2017·Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease·Michelle J SunSheila K West
Jul 20, 2017·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·Evan M BlochChristian Coles
Sep 13, 2017·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Anaseini CamaUNKNOWN Global Trachoma Mapping Project
Jan 29, 2019·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Jessica S KimDiana L Martin
Jan 31, 2019·Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy·Meraf A Wolle, Sheila K West
Aug 3, 2018·MSphere·K Shamsur RahmanBernhard Kaltenboeck
Nov 10, 2017·Scientific Reports·Stephanie J MigchelsenChrissy H Roberts
Sep 25, 2020·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Diana L MartinAnthony W Solomon
Aug 17, 2021·The Journal of Infectious Diseases·Kh Shamsur Rahman, Bernhard Kaltenboeck

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
nucleic acid amplification
MDA
ELISA

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