Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35439248›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2022

A national survey integrating clinical, laboratory, and WASH data to determine the typology of trachoma in Nauru.

Kathleen D Lynch, Sue Chen Apadinuwe, Stephen B Lambert, Tessa Hillgrove, Mitchell Starr, Beth Catlett, Robert S Ware, Anasaini Cama, Sara Webster, Emma M Harding-Esch and 9 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Population-based concordance ofMicrobiology spectrum · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Trachoma: The Last Decade?Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2023
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors at 8 institutions in 4 countries.

Kathleen D LynchUQ Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8335-8259
Sue Chen ApadinuweMinistry of Health and Medical Services, Denig, Republic of Nauru.
Stephen B LambertUQ Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-2709-193X
Tessa HillgroveThe Fred Hollows Foundation, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4222-6537
Mitchell StarrNSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Beth CatlettNSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Robert S WareMenzies Health Institute Queensland and School of Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6129-6736
Anasaini CamaThe Fred Hollows Foundation, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0364-0789
Sara WebsterThe Fred Hollows Foundation, Melbourne, Australia.
Emma M Harding-EschClinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-1432-8109
Ana BakhtiariInternational Trachoma Initiative, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0003-4083-7115
Robert ButcherClinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-0435-2655
Philip CunninghamNSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Diana MartinDivision of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Sarah GwynDivision of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Anthony W SolomonDepartment of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-7101-6649
Chandalene GarabwanMinistry of Health and Medical Services, Denig, Republic of Nauru.
John M KaldorThe Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Susana Vaz NeryThe Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
St Vincent's Hospital Sydney · AUCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · USLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine · GBThe University of Queensland · AUUNSW Sydney · AUGriffith University · AUInternational Trachoma Initiative · USWorld Health Organization · CH

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe epidemiology of trachoma in several Pacific Islands differs from other endemic settings, in that there is a high prevalence of clinical signs of trachoma, particularly trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF), but few cases of trichiasis and limited evidence of ocular chlamydial infection. This so-called "Pacific enigma" has led to uncertainty regarding the appropriate public health response. In 2019 alongside Nauru's national trachoma population survey, we performed bacteriological and serological assessments of children to better understand the typology of trachoma and to determine whether there is a need for trachoma interventions.

methodsWe used two-stage cluster sampling, examining residents aged ≥1 year and collecting household-level water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) variables. Children aged 1-9 years provided conjunctival swabs and finger-prick dried blood spots to investigate the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid and anti-Pgp3 antibodies, respectively. PRINCIPAL

findingsIn 818 participants aged 1-9 years, the age-adjusted TF prevalence was 21.8% (95% CI 15.2-26.2%); ocular C. trachomatis prevalence was 34.5% (95% CI 30.6-38.9), and anti-Pgp3 antibody prevalence was 32.1% (95% CI 28.4%-36.3%). The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of trichiasis in ≥15-year-olds was 0.3% (95% CI 0.00-0.85), but no individual with trichiasis had trachomatous scarring (TS). Multivariable analysis showed an association between age and both TF (OR per year of age 1.3 [95% CI 1.2-1.4]) and anti-Pgp3 positivity (OR 1.2 [95% CI 1.2-1.3]). There were high rates of access to water and sanitation and no WASH variable was associated with the presence of TF.

conclusionsTF, nucleic acid, and age-specific antibody prevalence collectively indicate that high levels of C. trachomatis transmission among children present a high risk of ocular damage due to trachoma. The absence of trichiasis with trachomatous scarring suggest a relatively recent increase in transmission intensity.

Indexed as

Infant, Newborn, DiseasesNucleic AcidsTrachomaTrichiasisChildChlamydia trachomatisCicatrixHumansHygieneInfantInfant, NewbornPrevalenceSanitationWaterNucleic AcidsWater

Identifiers

PMID35439248
PMCPMC9017947
OpenAlexW4224222234

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.