Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39402497›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2024

Persistent transmission of onchocerciasis in Kwanware-Ottou focus in Wenchi health district, Ghana.

Rogers Nditanchou, David Agyemang, Ruth Dixon, Susan D'Souza, Richard Selby, Joseph Opare, Edward Jenner Tettevi, Manfred Dakorah Asiedu, Bright Idun, Alexandre Chailloux and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

14 authors.

Rogers NditanchouSightsavers Cameroon Country Office, Immeuble No 1067 bis Rue 1750 Nouvelle Route Bastos, P.O. Box 4844, Bastos, Yaoundé, Cameroon. rnditanchou@sightsavers.org.
David AgyemangSightsavers Ghana Country Office, The Elizabeth, No. 39, Senchi Link Airport Residential Area, P.O. Box 18190 KIA, Accra, Ghana.
Ruth DixonTechnopolis Group, 3 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE, UK.
Susan D'SouzaSightsavers, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3BW, UK.
Richard SelbySightsavers, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3BW, UK.
Joseph OpareNeglected Tropical Diseases Programme, Ghana Health Service, PMB, Ministries, P.O. Box MB-190, Accra, Ghana.
Edward Jenner TetteviThe Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), P. O. Box AH 38, Achimota, Accra, Ghana.
Manfred Dakorah AsieduThe Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), P. O. Box AH 38, Achimota, Accra, Ghana.
Bright IdunThe Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), P. O. Box AH 38, Achimota, Accra, Ghana.
Alexandre ChaillouxSightsavers, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3BW, UK.
Elena SchmidtSightsavers, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3BW, UK.
Louise HamillSightsavers, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3BW, UK.
Laura SenyonjoSightsavers, 35 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3BW, UK.
Mike Yaw Osei-AtweneboanaThe Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), P. O. Box AH 38, Achimota, Accra, Ghana.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study examined onchocerciasis transmission in Kwanware and Ottou in the Wenchi Health District of Ghana, where persistent onchocercal microfilariae (mf) levels have been reported since 2012.

methodsThis study was conducted from 2019 to 2021 and involved the following: (i) reviewing past records of ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA); (ii) conducting a treatment coverage evaluation survey (CES); (iii) conducting key informant interviews; (iv) prospecting blackfly breeding sites; (v) collecting and dissecting blackflies; and (vi) conducting parasitological and serological surveys.

results(i) The review indicated ongoing MDA treatment for the past 27 years, with a reported coverage of over 65% in the last 17 yearly rounds; (ii) estimated treatment coverage by the CES in 2019 was 71.3%, with most of those not taking medicine stating that they were not offered; (iii) however, the key informant interviews revealed insufficiencies in reaching a significant number of people for treatment due to remote settlement, mobility, transport logistical issues, failure to register some people for treatment, leading to a false impression of good coverage, and a short distribution time; (iv) the most productive breeding was found within 5 km of Kwanware-Ottou; and (v) blackfly daily biting rates were highest in Kwanware and Ottou, with 199 and 160 bites per day, respectively. Infection in blackflies was found only in Kwanware and Ottou, with infectivity rates of 5.9‰ (per 1000) and 6.7‰, respectively. (vi) The mf prevalence in Ottou and Kwanware, respectively, was 40.0% and 30.0% among adults aged ≥ 20 years, and the anti-(Onchocerca volvulus) Ov16 IgG4 antibodies seroprevalence rates were 8.3% and 13.3% among children aged 5-9 years. These values were reduced to undetectable levels at a radius of 10 km from Ottou.

conclusionsThis study confirms that active onchocerciasis transmission centres on Kwanware/Ottou and is confined to a 10 km radius despite 27 yearly treatment rounds. The main contributing factors are suboptimal coverage and high biting rates. Identifying and targeting such a focus with a combination of interventions will be cost-effective in accelerating onchocerciasis elimination in Ghana.

Indexed as

IvermectinOnchocerca volvulusOnchocerciasisSimuliidaeAdultAnimalsChildChild, PreschoolFemaleGhanaHumansMaleMiddle AgedSerologySurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultIvermectinEntomologyIvermectinOnchocerciasisParasitologySerologyTransmission focus

Identifiers

PMID39402497
PMCPMC11475550

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.