Genomic epidemiology in filarial nematodes: transforming the basis for elimination program decisions
Hedtke, Shannon M., Kuesel, Annette C., Crawford, Katie E., Graves, Patricia M., Boussinesq, Michel, Lau, Colleen L., Boakye, Daniel A., and Grant, Warwick N. (2020) Genomic epidemiology in filarial nematodes: transforming the basis for elimination program decisions. Frontiers in Genetics, 10. 1282.
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Abstract
Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are targeted for elimination, primarily using mass drug administration at the country and community levels. Elimination of transmission is the onchocerciasis target and global elimination as a public health problem is the end point for lymphatic filariasis. Where program duration, treatment coverage, and compliance are sufficiently high, elimination is achievable for both parasites within defined geographic areas. However, transmission has re-emerged after apparent elimination in some areas, and in others has continued despite years of mass drug treatment. A critical question is whether this re-emergence and/or persistence of transmission is due to persistence of local parasites—i.e., the result of insufficient duration or drug coverage, poor parasite response to the drugs, or inadequate methods of assessment and/or criteria for determining when to stop treatment—or due to re-introduction of parasites via human or vector movement from another endemic area. We review recent genetics-based research exploring these questions in Onchocerca volvulus, the filarial nematode that causes onchocerciasis, and Wuchereria bancrofti, the major pathogen for lymphatic filariasis. We focus in particular on the combination of genomic epidemiology and genome-wide associations to delineate transmission zones and distinguish between local and introduced parasites as the source of resurgence or continuing transmission, and to identify genetic markers associated with parasite response to chemotherapy. Our ultimate goal is to assist elimination efforts by developing easy-to-use tools that incorporate genetic information about transmission and drug response for more effective mass drug distribution, surveillance strategies, and decisions on when to stop interventions to improve sustainability of elimination.
| Item ID: | 66298 |
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| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 1664-8021 |
| Keywords: | population genomics, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, transmission, parasite elimination, drug resistance, epidemiology |
| Copyright Information: | Copyright © 2020 World Health Organization; Licensee Frontiers Media SA. This is an Open Access article published under the CC BY 3.0 IGO license which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. In any use of this article, there should be no suggestion that WHO endorses any specific organization, products, or services. The use of the WHO logo is not permitted. This notice should be preserved along with the article’s original URL. |
| Funders: | UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (SPTTD), Australian Government (AG) |
| Projects and Grants: | SPTTD B80149, SPTTD B80153, AG Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Feb 2021 23:02 |
| FoR Codes: | 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3202 Clinical sciences > 320211 Infectious diseases @ 34% 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3207 Medical microbiology > 320704 Medical parasitology @ 33% 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4206 Public health > 420605 Preventative health care @ 33% |
| SEO Codes: | 20 HEALTH > 2001 Clinical health > 200104 Prevention of human diseases and conditions @ 50% 20 HEALTH > 2002 Evaluation of health and support services > 200205 Health policy evaluation @ 50% |
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