Mali International Center for Excellence in Research: Filariasis

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Over the past year, our research in Mali has made progress as follows: 1) Having completed the 24month followup in a cohort of 200 patients enrolled in a multi-national, multi-site study to examine the efficacy of a 6 week course of doxycycline on lymphedema in W. bancrofti infection. Data indicate that doxycycline adds very little to the reversal of lymphedema, though hygienic methods (soap/treatment of intertriginous infections/clean water) provides significant benefit. Analyses are complete and multiple manuscripts are being prepared. 2) An epidemiolgic study to assess the knowledge and factors influencing schistosomiasis control interventions in a hyperendemic health district of Kalabancoro in Mali. Data indicate that the majority of participants reported being aware of schistosomiasis, the modes of transmission, prevention, and treatment of schistosomiasis were not well understand. Misconceptions persist, hindering effective prevention and control.This is a tangible obstacle to the elimination of schistosomiasis in the Kalabancoro Health District and requires interventions tailored for these endemic communities. 3) Lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination activities started in Mali in 2005 in the most endemic areas and reached countrywide coverage in 2009. In 2004, the district of Bamako was endemic for LF with a prevalence of 1.5%. We performed a study was designed to determine LF endemicity level in the urban area of Bamako after three rounds of ivermectin and albendazole mass drug administration (MDA). A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bamako city, consisting of human prevalence and entomological surveys. Volunteers aged Our data indicate that there was no active LF transmission in the low prevalence urban district of Bamako after three MD rounds. These data helped the National LF programme move forward towards their elimination goal.