Effect of biannual azithromycin distribution on antibody responses to malaria, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens in Niger.

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TitleEffect of biannual azithromycin distribution on antibody responses to malaria, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens in Niger.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsArzika AM, Maliki R, E Goodhew B, Rogier E, Priest JW, Lebas E, O'Brien KS, Le V, Oldenburg CE, Doan T, Porco TC, Keenan JD, Lietman TM, Martin DL, Arnold BF
Corporate AuthorsMORDOR-Niger Study Group
JournalNat Commun
Volume13
Issue1
Pagination976
Date Published2022 02 21
ISSN2041-1723
Abstract

The MORDOR trial in Niger, Malawi, and Tanzania found that biannual mass distribution of azithromycin to children younger than 5 years led to a 13.5% reduction in all-cause mortality (NCT02048007). To help elucidate the mechanism for mortality reduction, we report IgG responses to 11 malaria, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens using a multiplex bead assay in pre-specified substudy of 30 communities in the rural Niger placebo-controlled trial over a three-year period (n = 5642 blood specimens, n = 3814 children ages 1-59 months). Mass azithromycin reduces Campylobacter spp. force of infection by 29% (hazard ratio = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.89; P = 0.004) but serological measures show no significant differences between groups for other pathogens against a backdrop of high transmission. Results align with a recent microbiome study in the communities. Given significant sequelae of Campylobacter infection among preschool aged children, our results support an important mechanism through which biannual mass distribution of azithromycin likely reduces mortality in Niger.

DOI10.1038/s41467-022-28565-5
Alternate JournalNat Commun
PubMed ID35190534
Grant ListK01 AI119180 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States