We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Guinea worm in domestic dogs in Chad: A description and analysis of surveillance data.
- Authors
Guagliardo, Sarah Anne J.; Roy, Sharon L.; Ruiz-Tiben, Ernesto; Zirimwabagabo, Hubert; Romero, Mario; Chop, Elisabeth; Ouakou, Philippe Tchindebet; Hopkins, Donald R.; Weiss, Adam J.
- Abstract
After a ten-year absence of reported Guinea worm disease in Chad, human cases were rediscovered in 2010, and canine cases were first recorded in 2012. In response, active surveillance for Guinea worm in both humans and animals was re-initiated in 2012. As of 2018, the Chad Guinea Worm Eradication Program (CGWEP) maintains an extensive surveillance system that operates in 1,895 villages, and collects information about worms, hosts (animals and humans), and animal owners. This report describes in detail the CGWEP surveillance system and explores epidemiological trends in canine Guinea worm cases during 2015–2018. Our results showed an increased in the number of canine cases detected by the system during the period of interest. The proportion of worms that were contained (i.e., water contamination was prevented) improved significantly over time, from 72.8% in 2015 to 85.7% in 2018 (Mantel-Haenszel chi-square = 253.3, P < 0.0001). Additionally, approximately 5% of owners of infected dogs reported that the dog had a Guinea worm-like infection earlier that year; 12.6% had a similar worm in a previous year. The proportion of dogs with a history of infection in a previous year increased over time (Mantel-Haenszel chi-square = 18.8, P < 0.0001). Canine cases were clustered in space and time: most infected dogs (80%) were from the Chari Baguirmi (38.1%) and Moyen Chari Regions (41.9%), and for each year the peak month of identified canine cases was June, with 78.5% occurring during March through August. Findings from this report evoke additional questions about why some dogs are repeatedly infected. Our results may help to target interventions and surveillance efforts in terms of space, time, and dogs susceptible to recurrent infection, with the ultimate goal of Guinea worm eradication. Author summary: Guinea worm is a parasitic infection caused by the roundworm Dracunculus medinensis. The potential route(s) and risk factors for transmission in dogs are under research. Since 2012, the Chad Guinea Worm Eradication Program (CGWEP) has conducted intensive surveillance to detect infections in dogs in addition to ongoing surveillance to detect cases in humans. In this report, we describe the methods employed by CGWEP to identify canine cases and explore the characteristics of infected dogs. During the period of interest, 2015–2018, there were an increased number of canine cases detected by the system, with evidence of better canine case containment over time (i.e., contamination of water was prevented). About 13% of dogs had experienced a previous Guinea worm infection in a different year, suggesting that infection risk is not equally distributed among all dogs over time. Two regions within Chad, Chari Baguirmi and Moyen Chari Regions, reported approximately 80% of all canine cases detected, and a strong seasonal pattern was observed.
- Subjects
CHAD; DOGS; DATA analysis; WORMS; DOG owners; WATER pollution
- Publication
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2020, Vol 14, Issue 5, p1
- ISSN
1935-2727
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pntd.0008207