PAHO

To compare the performance of antigen (FTS) and antibody (Wb123 monoplex) tools in programmatic settings (TAS).

Comparison of safety profile and acceptability between triple drug therapy (IVM,DEC,ALB) and standard two-drug therapy (DEC, ALB), plus STH evaluation.

To evaluate strategies to improve the sensitivity of the TAS for detecting evidence of recent lymphatic filariasis transmission in an evaluation unit (EU). The TAS Strengthening Study in Haiti is designed to assess additional indicators that may be added to the current TAS platform in order to strengthen the resulting stopping or surveillance decisions. A comprehensive analysis will be conducted to understand the correlation between antigen and antibody in adults and children with the mosquito data. A spatial analysis looking at microfoci of infection will also be conducted.  Xenomonitoring work to assess Culex mosquitoes will be conducted in the same sites as the human sampling. 

The results from this study will be combined into a multi-country analysis and are expected to help inform WHO guidance on stopping and surveillance for LF. 

Determine whether school-based TAS results in the same programmatic conclusion as a community-based TAS in EUs where school attendance is poor.

Comparison of ICT, FST and Antibody tests in low-prevalence settings.

The multi-country studies on the same topic led to the endorsement by WHO for the FTS as an approved diagnostic tool.

To identify antigens that can be produced as recombinant proteins and to document elimination of schistosomiasis.

To identify antigens that differentiate between infections with Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium and that can be used in an ELISA, lateral flow assay or multiplex format.

Can a mobile reader be used to standardize the reading of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs)?

To develop models that can predict MF prevalence after a given number of rounds of MDA as a tool to identify program settings in which the response to MDA is less than predicted. 

Multi-lab comparison for STH PCR methods

To refine the use of multi-parallel quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for STH parasites. Those parasites included in this proposal are Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura. Collect parasites of all five species in Argentina.