Mapping of yaws endemicity in Ghana; Lessons to strengthen the planning and implementation of yaws eradication

Law, Basing; Djan, Moses; Sv, Simpson; Adu‐Sarkodie, Yaw

doi:10.1101/2020.02.20.20025122

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The frequency of detection of serologically confirmed yaws among suspected cases in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana was 8.6%, 6.8% and 26.8% respectively. These data show that yaws is more prevalent in endemic health districts in Ghana compared to Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, which is consistent with routine reporting data in Ghana with frequencies above 15% among suspected cases of yaws (34, 42, 43). Ghana has the second highest population density in West Africa and this can make it more difficult to control the spread of yaws.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

An integrated active case search for skin-NTDs in yaws endemic health districts in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana

Tchatchouang,

Basing,

Kouadio-Aboh

et al. 2023

Preprint

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BackgroundIntegrated approaches to mapping skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) may be cost-effective way to guide decisions on resource mobilization. Pilot studies have been carried out, but large-scale data covering multiple countries endemic for skin-NTDs are lacking. Within the LAMP4YAWS project, we collected integrated data on the burden of multiple skin-NTDs.MethodsFrom March 2021 to March 2023, integrated case searches for yaws alongside other skin conditions were performed in endemic health districts of yaws in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana. Initial screening involved a brief clinical examination of participants to determine if any skin conditions were suspected. Cases of skin-NTDs were then referred to a health facility for appropriate management.ResultsOverall 61,080 individuals screened, 11,387 (18.6%) had skin lesions. The majority of individuals (>90%) examined were children aged 15 years old and under. The proportion of serologically confirmed yaws cases was 8.6% (18/210) in Cameroon, 6.8% (84/1232) in Côte d’Ivoire, and 26.8% (440/1643) in Ghana. Other skin conditions based on clinical examination included: scabies, Buruli ulcer, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis (lymphoedema and hydrocele), tungiasis, and fungal infections. The most common conditions were scabies and superficial fungal infections (scabies versus fungal infections) in Cameroon with 5.1% (214/4204) versus 88.7% (3730/4204), Côte d’Ivoire with 25.2% (1285/5095) versus 50.4% (2567/5095) and Ghana 20% (419/2090) versus 1.3% (28/2090). Other skin-NTDs were less common across all three countries.ConclusionThis study confirms that integrated screening allows simultaneous detection of multiple skin-NTDs, maximising use of scarce resources.Plain English SummaryMany Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) predominantly affect the skin and are referred to as skin-NTDs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a number of strategies for the control, eradication and elimination of skin-NTDs and recognizes the importance of integrated approaches to mapping skin-NTDs. We conducted a study adopting integrated screening for multiple skin-NTDs and other skin conditions in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana. This ran alongside a study focused on diagnostic tests for one specific skin-NTD – yaws.The results showed that integrated screening is a feasible and cost-effective way to detect multiple skin-NTDs in a single intervention. Of more than 60,000 individuals screened almost one in five had a skin lesion. Cases of yaws confirmed by blood tests were detected more frequently in Ghana compared to Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon. The most common skin conditions were scabies and superficial fungal infections. Other skin-NTDs such as Buruli ulcer, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis and tungiasis were less common. Integrated screening allowed detection of skin conditions and co-endemicity of skin-NTDs and the data can guide decisions on resource mobilization to manage skin-NTDs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

An integrated active case search for skin-NTDs in yaws endemic health districts in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana

Tchatchouang,

Basing,

Kouadio-Aboh

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…The history of human yaws in Ghana goes back to 1936, when the burden of human yaws infection in humans constituted 62.7% of all infectious diseases treated in government health facilities (compared with 20.3% for malaria) (reviewed in Asiedu et al, 2014). Nearly a century later, yaws is still endemic in Ghana (Basing et al, 2020;Marks et al, 2017). Today, together with Papua New Guinea and the Salomon This information is complemented by a report that mentions a National Yaws Eradication Program Fact Sheet from 2017 (Okine et al, 2020),…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No evidence for yaws infection in a small‐scale cross‐sectional serosurvey in Ghanaian monkeys

Adade

Roos

Chuma

et al. 2022

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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Background Treponema pallidum ( TP ) is a spirochaete bacterium with subspecies that in humans cause syphilis (subsp. pallidum ), bejel (subsp. endemicum ) and yaws (subsp. pertenue ; TPE ). The latter is target for eradication which requires detailed information on yaws epidemiology. It has been shown that African nonhuman primates (NHPs) are infected with TPE strains that are closely related to the human infecting yaws bacterium. While human yaws infection is known to be endemic in Ghana, there is a paucity of information regarding TPE infection of Ghana's native NHPs. Objectives The objective was to perform a small‐scale cross‐sectional serological screening for antibodies against TPE in Ghanaian monkeys. Due to the reports of TPE ‐infected NHPs from neighbouring Côte d'Ivore, we hypothesised that monkeys in Ghana are infected with TPE and, therefore, are seropositive for antibodies against‐ Treponema . Methods We sampled blood from 37 NHPs representing four species: Erythrocebus patas (16/37) 43.2%, Papio anubis (15/37) 40.5%, Chlorocebus sabaeus (3/37) 8.1% and Cercopithecus mona (3/37) 8.1%. Samples were tested using the NHP validated treponemal test ESPLINE TP. Results All 37 animals were seronegative for yaws infection. Conclusions We cannot exclude yaws infection in NHPs in Ghana at this point. Our study, in combination with the absence of reports of clinically infected NHPs in a yaws endemic country is, however, supportive for the current thinking that interspecies infection with TPE is extremely rare. This is an important finding for the current ongoing yaws eradication campaign.

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“…Although the number of yaws cases has reduced significantly from the late 1950s to date, Ghana still serves as one of the countries with the most cases in the world. is West African country is one of three countries (including Papua New Guinea and Solomon Island) that accounts for 84% of global yaws cases [64].…”

Section: Group Of Pathogenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reviewing the Past, Present, and Future Risks of Pathogens in Ghana and What This Means for Rethinking Infectious Disease Surveillance for Sub-Saharan Africa

Mahama

Kabo-bah

Blanford

et al. 2022

Journal of Tropical Medicine

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The current epidemiological transition makes us wonder how the parallel of infectious diseases (IDs) might be at the end of each passing year. Yet, the surveillance of these IDs continues to focus on high-profile diseases of public health importance without keeping track of the broad spectrum of the IDs we face. Here, we presented the prevalence of the broad spectrum of IDs in Ghana. Data from the annual reports on Gold Coast now Ghana, Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Network (GIDEON), and the District Health Information Management System II (DHIMS2) databases were examined for records of ID prevalence in Ghana. Using the IDs from these databases, the paper assessed the epidemiological transition, pathogen-host interactions, spatiotemporal distribution, transmission routes, and their potential areas of impact in Ghana. The topmost ID recorded in health facilities in Ghana transitioned from yaws in the 1890s to malaria in the 1950s through 2020. We then presented the hosts of a pathogen and the pathogens of a host, the administrative districts where a pathogen was found, and the pathogens found in each district of Ghana. The highest modes of transmission routes were through direct contact for bacteria and airborne or droplet-borne for viral pathogens. From GIDEON, 226 IDs were identified as endemic or potentially endemic in Ghana, with 42% cited in peer-reviewed articles from 2000 to 2020. From the extent of risk of endemic or potentially endemic IDs, Ghana faces a high risk of ID burden that we should be mindful of their changing patterns and should keep track of the state of each of them.

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Mapping of yaws endemicity in Ghana; Lessons to strengthen the planning and implementation of yaws eradication

Cited by 4 publications

References 26 publications

An integrated active case search for skin-NTDs in yaws endemic health districts in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana

An integrated active case search for skin-NTDs in yaws endemic health districts in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana

No evidence for yaws infection in a small‐scale cross‐sectional serosurvey in Ghanaian monkeys

Reviewing the Past, Present, and Future Risks of Pathogens in Ghana and What This Means for Rethinking Infectious Disease Surveillance for Sub-Saharan Africa

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