The peculiar epidemiology of dracunculiasis in Chad

Eberhard, M. L. et al. (2014) The peculiar epidemiology of dracunculiasis in Chad. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 90(1), pp. 61-70. (doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0554) (PMID:24277785) (PMCID:PMC3886430)

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Abstract

Dracunculiasis was rediscovered in Chad in 2010 after an apparent absence of 10 years. In April 2012 active village-based surveillance was initiated to determine where, when, and how transmission of the disease was occurring, and to implement interventions to interrupt it. The current epidemiologic pattern of the disease in Chad is unlike that seen previously in Chad or other endemic countries, i.e., no clustering of cases by village or association with a common water source, the average number of worms per person was small, and a large number of dogs were found to be infected. Molecular sequencing suggests these infections were all caused by Dracunculus medinensis. It appears that the infection in dogs is serving as the major driving force sustaining transmission in Chad, that an aberrant life cycle involving a paratenic host common to people and dogs is occurring, and that the cases in humans are sporadic and incidental.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Cotton, Professor James
Authors: Eberhard, M. L., Ruiz-Tiben, E., Hopkins, D. R., Farrell, C., Toe, F., Weiss, A., Withers Jr/, P. C., Jenks, M. H., Thiele, E. A., Cotton, J. A., Hance, Z., Holroyd, N., Cama, V. A., Tahir, M. A., and Mounda, T.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Publisher:American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
ISSN:0002-9637
ISSN (Online):1476-1645
Published Online:08 January 2014

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