Trachoma post-validation surveillance in Ghana

This study will assess new surveillance strategies for trachoma post-validation surveillance (PVS) through the integration of malaria drug resistance surveillance.

Specific objectives:

• To analyse blood samples collected as part of yearly malaria drug resistance monitoring for trachoma anti-Pgp3 antibodies
• To analyse the collected data for trends in the anti-Pgp3 antibodies that indicate increasing trachoma prevalence.

Trachoma post-validation surveillance happens after a country has been validated as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. In the period of PVS, serology has been identified as a promising tool for detecting any recrudescence.

With leadership from Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, this study in Ghana explores the potential of coordinating trachoma serological surveillance with existing malaria drug resistance monitoring/surveillance. In ‘formerly’ trachoma endemic districts, bloodspots collected from febrile children (aged one to nine years old) residing in malaria sentinel sites will be used to assess the prevalence of trachoma anti-Pgp3 antibodies in 2015, 2018 and 2021. In 2018, Ghana was validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

If successful, this approach could be used as a low-cost passive surveillance option for use in post-elimination surveillance.

• Quantitative

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