Abstract
.Successful achievement of global targets for elimination of trachoma as a public health problem and eradication of yaws will require control efforts to reach marginalized populations, including refugees. Testing for serologic evidence of transmission of trachoma and yaws in residents of registered camps and a Makeshift Settlement in Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh, was added to a serosurvey for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) conducted April–May 2018. The survey was primarily designed to estimate remaining immunity gaps for VPDs, including diphtheria, measles, rubella, and polio. Blood specimens from 1- to 14-year-olds from selected households were collected and tested for antibody responses against antigens from Treponema pallidum and Chlamydia trachomatis using a multiplex bead assay to evaluate for serologic evidence of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) yaws and trachoma, respectively. The prevalence of antibodies against two C. trachomatis antigens in children ranged from 1.4% to 1.5% for Pgp3 and 2.8% to 7.0% for CT694. The prevalence of antibody responses against both of two treponemal antigens (recombinant protein17 and treponemal membrane protein A) tested was 0% to 0.15% in two camps. The data are suggestive of very low or no transmission of trachoma and yaws, currently or previously, in children resident in these communities. This study illustrates how integrated serologic testing can provide needed data to help NTD programs prioritize limited resources.
Highlights
Between late August 2017 and December 2017, more than 650,000 people moved into the Cox’s Bazar area in Bangladesh, joining approximately 300,000 others who had arrived during earlier waves of migration.[1]
To guide further vaccination activities, a household vaccination coverage and serosurvey was undertaken in April–May 2018 that included integrated serological surveillance using multiplex bead assays for targets linked to parasitic and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that have elimination goals
In the current evaluation, testing for antibodies against the pathogens that cause trachoma and yaws was included as part of a larger serosurvey designed to measure vaccination coverage among children in communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Summary
Between late August 2017 and December 2017, more than 650,000 people moved into the Cox’s Bazar area in Bangladesh, joining approximately 300,000 others who had arrived during earlier waves of migration.[1]. In the first 7 weeks of 2018, large numbers of cases of acute watery diarrhea (N = 36,533) and acute respiratory infection (N = 74,034) were reported.[2] Measles and diphtheria outbreaks were reported.[3]. From September 2017 to March 2018, vaccination campaigns were implemented to reduce the risk of transmission of measles, diphtheria, and other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).[4] To guide further vaccination activities, a household vaccination coverage and serosurvey was undertaken in April–May 2018 that included integrated serological surveillance using multiplex bead assays for targets linked to parasitic and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that have elimination goals. The assay panel included antigens specific for Chlamydia trachomatis and Treponema pallidum; ocular strains of C. trachomatis cause trachoma, and T. pallidum subspecies pertenue causes yaws
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