BACKGROUND: Trachoma programs use the indicator trachomatous inflammation--follicular (TF) to monitor indication for and response to treatment for trachoma at the district level. Alternative indicators, including serologic markers, are increasingly being evaluated for trachoma surveillance. We evaluated seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to the Pgp3 antigen in two districts in Maradi, Niger thought to have low TF prevalence.
METHODS: Data were collected as part of the baseline assessment of the Azithromycin Reduction to Reach Elimination of Trachoma (ARRET) trial in September 2021. A random sample of 80 communities was selected from Mayahi and Guidan Roumdji districts, both of which had TF prevalence <20% at their most recent trachoma impact survey in 2018. A random sample of 50 children per community was sampled. We collected field grades, conjunctival swabs for processing PCR for ocular Chlamydia trachomatis, and dried blood spots for serologic assessment.
RESULTS: Of 3,994 children sampled in 80 communities, 49% were female and median age was 4 years. Overall TF prevalence was 4.6% (95% CI 3.5 to 5.8%) and trachomatous inflammation-intense (TI) prevalence was 0.6% (95% 0.3 to 0.9%). The prevalence of ocular chlamydia was 0.03% (95% CI 0.08%). Seroprevalence for Pgp3 antibodies was 6.3% (95% CI 5.5 to 7.1%) in 1-9-year-olds and 3.7% (95% CI 2.9 to 4.4%) in 1-5-year-olds. TF and Pgp3 seroprevalence were better correlated in 1-5-year-olds (correlation coefficient 0.29) compared to 1-9-year-olds (correlation coefficient 0.09).
CONCLUSIONS: In this low trachoma prevalence setting in Niger, seroprevalence of antibodies to Pgp3 were consistent with little ongoing transmission of C. trachomatis.
BT - PLoS Negl Trop Dis DA - 2024 Dec 09 DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012727 IS - 12 J2 - PLoS Negl Trop Dis LA - eng N2 -BACKGROUND: Trachoma programs use the indicator trachomatous inflammation--follicular (TF) to monitor indication for and response to treatment for trachoma at the district level. Alternative indicators, including serologic markers, are increasingly being evaluated for trachoma surveillance. We evaluated seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to the Pgp3 antigen in two districts in Maradi, Niger thought to have low TF prevalence.
METHODS: Data were collected as part of the baseline assessment of the Azithromycin Reduction to Reach Elimination of Trachoma (ARRET) trial in September 2021. A random sample of 80 communities was selected from Mayahi and Guidan Roumdji districts, both of which had TF prevalence <20% at their most recent trachoma impact survey in 2018. A random sample of 50 children per community was sampled. We collected field grades, conjunctival swabs for processing PCR for ocular Chlamydia trachomatis, and dried blood spots for serologic assessment.
RESULTS: Of 3,994 children sampled in 80 communities, 49% were female and median age was 4 years. Overall TF prevalence was 4.6% (95% CI 3.5 to 5.8%) and trachomatous inflammation-intense (TI) prevalence was 0.6% (95% 0.3 to 0.9%). The prevalence of ocular chlamydia was 0.03% (95% CI 0.08%). Seroprevalence for Pgp3 antibodies was 6.3% (95% CI 5.5 to 7.1%) in 1-9-year-olds and 3.7% (95% CI 2.9 to 4.4%) in 1-5-year-olds. TF and Pgp3 seroprevalence were better correlated in 1-5-year-olds (correlation coefficient 0.29) compared to 1-9-year-olds (correlation coefficient 0.09).
CONCLUSIONS: In this low trachoma prevalence setting in Niger, seroprevalence of antibodies to Pgp3 were consistent with little ongoing transmission of C. trachomatis.
PY - 2024 EP - e0012727 T2 - PLoS Negl Trop Dis TI - Seroepidemiology of trachoma in a low prevalence region receiving annual mass azithromycin distribution in Maradi, Niger. VL - 18 SN - 1935-2735 ER -