Usability, acceptability and cost of the SD BIOLINE Ov16 rapid diagnostic test for onchocerciasis surveillance in endemic communities in the middle belt of Ghana

Author:

Otabil Kenneth BentumORCID,Basáñez María-GloriaORCID,Elizabeth Ameyaa,Oppong Michael,Mensah Prince,Gyasi-Ampofo Richmond,Bart-Plange Emmanuel John,Babae Theophilus Nti,Datsa Lydia,Boakye Andrews Agyapong,Yeboah Michael Tawiah,Nyarko Prince,Kudzordzi Prince Charles,Acheampong Anabel,Blay Edwina Twum,Schallig Henk D.F.H.ORCID,Colebunders RobertORCID

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies in the Bono Region (middle belt) of Ghana have reported persistentOnchocerca volvulusinfection and associated morbidities after nearly three decades of ivermectin treatment. This study aimed to assess the usability, acceptability and cost of the Ov16 SD BIOLINE rapid diagnostic test (Ov16 RDT) in onchocerciasis surveillance activities in the middle belt of Ghana.MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted in 6 endemic communities in the Tain District and Wenchi Municipality. A total of 254 individuals (54% females; median age (range)=31 (5–83) years), agreed to participate in Ov16 RDT (100%), skin-snip microscopy (37%) and nodule palpation (100%). Post-test interviews were conducted for all 94 participants tested by all three diagnostics. A cost analysis based on testing 400 people was performed.Principal findingsOv16 seroprevalence was 23.6% (60/254, 95%CI=18.8%–29.2%); microfilarial prevalence 11.7% (11/94, 95%CI = 6.7%–19.8%) and nodule prevalence 5.5% (14/254, 95%CI=3.3%–9.0%). The proportion of Ov16 seropositive females (43/136, 31.6%) was twice that of males (17/117, 14.5%). Among 5–9-year-olds, Ov16 seroprevalence was 11.1% (3/27), microfilarial prevalence 23.1% (3/13) and nodule prevalence 3.7% (1/27). For the 94 participants with all three tests, there was no association between the results of Ov16 RDT, skin-snip microscopy and/or nodule palpation. Most participants and technicians preferred Ov16 RDT because of being less painful and invasive, easier to use and faster. Had 400 participants been tested, the total cost per individual would be US$24 (Ov16 RDT) and US$74 (skin-snip microscopy).ConclusionsOv16 RDT is more acceptable and affordable (a third of the cost) compared to skin-snipping for surveillance activities in transmission hotspots in Ghana.Author summaryOnchocerciasis (River blindness) is a neglected tropical disease targeted by the World Health Organization for elimination of transmission in 12 endemic countries by 2030. There is a need for field-friendly, acceptable and affordable tools to monitor progress towards elimination. In Ghana, the SD BIOLINE Ov16 rapid diagnostic test (Ov16 RDT) has been used in several epidemiological surveys, but its usability, acceptability and cost have not been assessed. We studied 6 endemic communities with persistent infection after nearly three decades of ivermectin treatment. The prevalence of seropositivity by Ov16 RDT was twice the prevalence of skin-snip microscopy positivity and four times the prevalence of nodule-palpation positivity. For the individuals tested by all three diagnostics, we found no agreement between the results of Ov16 RDT and skin-snip microscopy (and/or nodule palpation), likely owing to the long-term treatment in the study area. The Ov 16 RDT was acceptable to both study participants and technicians because it was less painful and invasive, and yielded results more quickly. The cost of skin-snip microscopy would be thrice that of Ov16 RDT when testing 400 individuals. Ov16 RDT is more acceptable and less costly than skin-snipping for surveillance activities in transmission hotspots in Ghana.

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Reference46 articles.

1. World Health Organization. Onchocerciasis. 2022. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/onchocerciasis.

2. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Seattle, WA: IHME, 2018. Available from: https://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/policy_report/2019/GBD_2017_Booklet.pdf.

3. Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

4. Preventive chemotherapy as a strategy for elimination of neglected tropical parasitic diseases: endgame challenges

5. Elimination of transmission of onchocerciasis (river blindness) with long-term ivermectin mass drug administration with or without vector control in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis;Lancet Glob Health,2024

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3