Seasonal variation in trachoma and bush flies in north‐western Australian Aboriginal communities

Abstract

If bush fly populations are correlated with increased levels of trachoma, then measures aimed at augmenting public health plans for bush fly control may decrease the cross-infection rate. Additionally, based on the results of this study, wet season trachoma screening trips should be considered.

Characterization of Chlamydia trachomatis omp1 Genotypes Detected in Eye Swab Samples from Remote Australian Communities

“…However, despite an unknown prevalence of trachoma in the communities described in this study, a recent report described trachoma prevalence in children aged 4 to 15 years across seven communities in the Northern Territory as ranging from 17% (endemic) to 38% (hyperendemic) (19). Additionally, trachoma prevalence rates have been shown to significantly rise during the wet season, correlating with increased numbers of bush flies, likely transmission vectors of trachoma (9). Notably, the rise in trachoma cases on which this study was based occurred during the dry season.…”

“…Australia is the only developed country where trachoma blindness still occurs (28). Trachoma has been successfully eradicated from many regional communities in Australia, although the disease is still prevalent in areas where living conditions are overcrowded and there is inadequate personal and community hygiene, as experienced in many remote communities in the Australian Northern Territory, Western Australia, and central Australia (9,10,28). Incidence rates for sexually transmitted infections, including urogenital chlamydial disease, are also markedly higher in remote populations of the Northern Territory than in the rest of Australia (3).…”

Preliminary evidence that synanthropic flies contribute to the transmission of trachoma- causing Chlamydia trachomatis in Latin America

“…Successful reductions in trachoma caused by Chlamydia trachomatis have recently been achieved in the Gambia by reducing the density of the filth fly Musca sorbens (Wiedemann), which constitutes an important arthropod vector along with the house fly Musca domestica in Africa 1,2,3 , and the bush fly Musca vetustissima (Walker) in Australia 4 .…”

Trachoma control in two Central Australian Aboriginal communities: a case study

“…As far as nasal discharge and facial cleanliness was concerned, children in the 1-9 year age group at community 2 performed better than their counterparts at community 1, especially with regard to facial cleanliness; however, it is doubtful that this difference in facial cleanliness Two other studies have reported differences in trachoma prevalence at different times of the year. da Cruz et al [16] reported significant differences in some northwestern Aboriginal communities in active trachoma prevalence between dry and wet seasons. However, as that study area was in Kimberley, a tropical rainfall area, not desert, we saw no obvious correlation of rainfall with active trachoma prevalence in our study.…”