Control and elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Oceania: Prevalence, geographical distribution, mass drug administration, and surveillance in Samoa, 1998–2017

Graves, Patricia M.; Joseph, Hayley; Coutts, Shaun P.; Mayfield, Helen J.; Maiava, Fuatai; Leong-Lui, Tile A. Ah; Toelupe, Palanitina Tupuimatagi; Iosia, Vailolo Toeaso; Loau, Siatua; Pemita, Paulo; Naseri, Take; Thomsen, Robert; Soto, Alvaro Berg; Melrose, Wayne; Aratchige, Padmasiri Eswara; Capuano, Corinne; Kim, Sung Hye; Ozaki, Masayo; Yajima, Aya; Lammie, Patrick J.; Ottesen, Eric A.; Hansell, Lepaitai; Baghirov, Rasul; Lau, Colleen L; Ichimori, Kazuyo

doi:10.1016/bs.apar.2021.03.002

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In 1999, Samoa was the first country to roll out MDA using a combination of DEC and albendazole as the PacELF strategy. 4 By the end of 2001, 11 more countries and territories also rolled out their MDA campaigns successfully using this double-drug therapy. Annual rounds of MDA have continued throughout the Pacific, and by the year 2020, 8 of 16 LF-endemic countries and territories (50%)—namely, Kiribati, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, and Vanuatu—had achieved elimination of LF as a public health problem and received validation of that status by the WHO.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Partnership in the Rollout of Triple-Drug Therapy to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in the Pacific

Rainima-Qaniuci¹,

Lepaitai²,

Bhagirov

et al. 2022

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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We discuss the experience of some Pacific island countries in introducing the new WHO-recommended treatment protocol for lymphatic filariasis—a triple-drug therapy composed of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole. The successful rollout of the new treatment protocol was dependent on strong partnerships among these countries’ ministries of health, WHO, and other stakeholders. Effective communication among these partners allowed for lessons learned to cross borders and have a positive impact on the experiences of other countries. We also describe various challenges confronted during this process and the ways these countries overcame them.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Partnership in the Rollout of Triple-Drug Therapy to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in the Pacific

Rainima-Qaniuci¹,

Lepaitai²,

Bhagirov

et al. 2022

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…LF is endemic in Samoa, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes including the highly efficient Aedes polynesiensis, with a flight range of ~150 m [9,10]. Samoa has conducted LF elimination programs under GPELF since 1998 [11], with eight nationwide and two subnational MDAs with DEC and albendazole conducted between 1999 and 2011. Population coverage was sub-optimal in the early campaigns but was over 65% in the five most recent rounds of MDA [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Molecular Xenomonitoring as a Tool for Lymphatic Filariasis Surveillance in Samoa, 2018–2019

McPherson¹,

Mayfield

McLure

et al. 2022

TropicalMed

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Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), the detection of filarial DNA in mosquitoes using molecular methods (PCR), is a potentially useful surveillance strategy for lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination programs. Delay in filarial antigen (Ag) clearance post-treatment is a limitation of using human surveys to provide an early indicator of the impact of mass drug administration (MDA), and MX may be more useful in this setting. We compared prevalence of infected mosquitoes pre- and post-MDA (2018 and 2019) in 35 primary sampling units (PSUs) in Samoa, and investigated associations between the presence of PCR-positive mosquitoes and Ag-positive humans. We observed a statistically significant decline in estimated mosquito infection prevalence post-MDA at the national level (from 0.9% to 0.3%, OR 0.4) but no change in human Ag prevalence during this time. Ag prevalence in 2019 was higher in randomly selected PSUs where PCR-positive pools were detected (1.4% in ages 5–9; 4.8% in ages ≥10), compared to those where PCR-positive pools were not detected (0.2% in ages 5–9; 3.2% in ages ≥10). Our study provides promising evidence for MX as a complement to human surveys in post-MDA surveillance.

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“…Samoa has conducted LF elimination programs under GPELF since 1998 [12], with eight nationwide and two subnational MDAs with DEC and albendazole conducted between 1999 and 2011. Population coverage was not optimal in the early campaigns but was over 65% in the five most recent rounds of MDA [12]. Programmatic coverage for the 2018 tripledrug MDA was 83.9% of the eligible population [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Programmatic coverage for the 2018 tripledrug MDA was 83.9% of the eligible population [13]. However, programmatic surveys in 2013 and 2017 [12] and research projects in 2018 [14] showed ongoing transmission. In 2018, Samoa was the first country to distribute nation-wide triple-drug MDA (ivermectin, albendazole and diethylcarbamazine) [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…LF is endemic in Samoa, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes including the highly efficient Aedes polynesiensis, with a flight range of ~150m [10,11]. Samoa has conducted LF elimination programs under GPELF since 1998 [12], with eight nationwide and two subnational MDAs with DEC and albendazole conducted between 1999 and 2011. Population coverage was not optimal in the early campaigns but was over 65% in the five most recent rounds of MDA [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating Molecular Xenomonitoring as a Tool for Lymphatic Filariasis Surveillance in Samoa, 2018-2019

McPherson¹,

Mayfield

McLure

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), the detection of filarial DNA in mosquitoes using molecular methods (PCR), is a potentially useful surveillance strategy for lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination programs. Delay in filarial antigen (Ag) clearance post-treatment is a limitation of using human surveys to provide an early indicator of the impact of mass drug administration (MDA), and MX may be more useful in this setting. We compared prevalence of infected mosquitoes pre- and post-MDA (2018 and 2019) in 35 primary sampling units (PSUs) in Samoa, and investigated associations between presence of PCR-positive mosquitoes and Ag-positive humans. We observed a statistically significant decline in mosquito infection prevalence post-MDA at the National Level (from 0.9% to 0.3%, OR 0.4) but no change in human Ag prevalence during this time. Antigen prevalence was higher in randomly selected PSUs where PCR-positive pools were detected (1.4% in ages 5-9; 4.8% in ages ³10), compared to those where PCR-positive pools were not detected (0.2% in ages 5-9; 3.2% in ages ³10). Presence of PCR-positive pools of ‘all species’ was most sensitive (78.6%) for detecting villages with Ag-positive humans, while Ae. polynesiensis provided the highest positive predictive value (81.8%). Our study provides promising evidence for MX as a complement to human surveys in post-MDA surveillance.

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Control and elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Oceania: Prevalence, geographical distribution, mass drug administration, and surveillance in Samoa, 1998–2017

Cited by 10 publications

References 36 publications

The Importance of Partnership in the Rollout of Triple-Drug Therapy to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in the Pacific

The Importance of Partnership in the Rollout of Triple-Drug Therapy to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in the Pacific

Evaluating Molecular Xenomonitoring as a Tool for Lymphatic Filariasis Surveillance in Samoa, 2018–2019

Evaluating Molecular Xenomonitoring as a Tool for Lymphatic Filariasis Surveillance in Samoa, 2018-2019

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