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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Prevalence and distribution of active trachoma in children of less than five years of age in trachoma endemic regions of Oman in 2005.

BACKGROUND: Oman aims to achieve "Elimination of Blinding Trachoma" by 2010. For accreditation purposes, a trachoma survey was conducted in Oman in 2005, targeting children younger than five years. It was conducted in twenty wilayats (districts) of three trachoma endemic regions. The Omani children were surveyed at health institutions during a 'Polio Supplementary Immunization Campaign.' The authors present the outcome of this survey and recommend policies for trachoma control in the study area. METHODS: Eye health care supervisors examined Omani children sequentially in health centers. However, the timings and days of visit to these health centers were selected randomly. The presence of trachoma follicular (TF) was noted in the tarsal area. The prevalence of TF was calculated and its distribution was mapped. RESULTS: The coverage for the immunization of children of less than five years of age residing in the study area was greater than 97%. For trachoma evaluation, 4,205 children were examined. The prevalence of TF in children of less than five years of age was 0.59% (95% CI; 0.40-0.88). Sumail, Hamra and Izki wilayats of Dhakhiliya region and Barka and Al Awabi Wilayats of South Batinah region had a prevalence of TF greater than 1%. No wilayat of North Sharqiya region had > or =1% TF. The gender variation in TF was not significant. (RR = 0.97 [95% CI 0.46-2.05]). CONCLUSIONS: All the Wilayats of trachoma endemic regions of Oman seem to have a prevalence of TF lesser than 5%. The data on TF in children aged between six and ten will enable us to determine whether Oman has achieved the Ultimate Intervention Goals (UIGs) for the provision of antibiotic treatment for acute infection (the "A" component of the SAFE strategy for the "Elimination of Blinding Trachoma" for the year 2005). Such initiatives of trachoma screening during a supplementary vaccination campaign could prove a cost-effective approach for determining the trachoma status of a country.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1962

The effect of trachoma virus vaccine on the course of experimental trachoma infection in blind human volunteers.

The TRIC-Taiwan-1-1958 strain of elementary body virus isolated from a trachoma patient on Taiwan has been proven capable of reproducing trachoma by experimental inoculation of six human volunteers. Virus material derived from the seventh passage in embryonated hen eggs caused the clinical picture of trachoma in every inoculation, even at the dilution of 10(-4) of infected yolk sacs (approximately 1 EID(50)). There was a similar clinical picture with each inoculation beginning with an acute follicular conjunctivitis which progressed for 4 months and then persisted with chronic changes until 9 months when treatment was begun. The illness was generally more acute than would be expected in natural trachoma. That trachoma was reproduced was shown by the involvement of the cornea with epithelial keratitis and pannus, and by the occurrence of gelatinous follicles and eventual cicatrization of the conjunctiva. These clinical findings were supported by repeated demonstrations of typical inclusion bodies of Halberstaedter-Prowazek from conjunctival and even corneal cells, by repeated reisolation of elementary body virus in egg yolk sacs, and by the development of complement-fixing antibody with a "specific" trachoma antigen in each volunteer. Control inoculations with adenovirus type 4 and normal yolk sac showed different clinical and laboratory findings. Experimental trachoma vaccine was given to three of the volunteers to study its effect on the course of illness. An antibody response to the vaccine was demonstrated and there was a modification of disease in the volunteers receiving vaccine. While the three volunteers who received placebo each developed cross-infection of their uninoculated eye and had an acute reactivation of the bilateral disease after 1 to 2 months of antibiotic eye ointment therapy, the vaccinated volunteers remained free of infection in uninoculated eyes and showed no relapse after ointment therapy. Treatment with sulfamethoxypyridazine, a sulfa drug with prolonged action, proved to be an effective and relatively simple method of therapy for experimental trachoma.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rapid trachoma assessment method (TRA): comparison with an exhaustive prevalence survey in a region of endemic trachoma in Mali].

In 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed a new strategy aimed at controlling blinding trachoma by 2020. The WHO developed a rapid assessment method for trachoma (TRA) for identifying communities affected by blinding trachoma and for ranking villages with endemic trachoma in order of priority for intervention. We applied this method to communities in Mali in which trachoma was prevalent, and compared the results with those of a classical prevalence survey. Seven villages from the Dogon region were first investigated using the rapid method. Members of the local community were asked to identify individuals with suspected trichiasis, using a diagram to help them with recognition. The individuals thus identified were then examined by an ophthalmic nurse for confirmation of the diagnosis. Fifty children aged less than ten years from poorer households were then selected. These children underwent ophthalmic examination, using a magnification of 2.5, and trachoma status was established. The next day, the villages were visited by an ophthalmologist who examined all of the inhabitants. The rapid assessment method identified 18 of the 52 patients requiring surgery. This method had a sensitivity of 34.6% and a specificity of 98%. The prevalence of active trachoma among children was 29.0% in the exhaustive survey and 29.9% for the rapid assessment method. Overall sensitivity was 54.6% and overall specificity 79.6%, as the two methods did not identify the same individuals. The Kappa coefficient, estimating agreement between observers, was 0.34. The ranking of the villages in order of priority differed slightly for the two methods. With the rapid assessment method, five of the seven villages were classified as having a prevalence of over 20% whereas, with the exhaustive survey, six of the seven villages fell into this category. TRA was not designed to replace epidemiological survey and the prevalence of trachoma should not be inferred from this method. However, it is a useful tool for determining the order of priority for intervention of communities at risk.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The household distribution of trachoma in a Tanzanian village: an application of GIS to the study of trachoma.

The distribution of active trachoma in Kahe Mpya, Tanzania, an endemic village of approximately 1000 people, was mapped spatially and analysed for associated risk factors and evidence of clustering. An association between distance to water source and active disease was demonstrated, although this was reduced after accounting for the lack of independence between cases in the same household. Significant clustering of active trachoma within households was demonstrated, adding support to the hypothesized importance of intra-familial transmission. The spatial distribution of trachoma was analysed using the spatial scan statistic, and evidence of clustering of active trachoma cases detected. Understanding the distribution of the disease has implications for understanding the dynamics of transmission and therefore appropriate control activities. The demonstrated spatial clustering suggests inter-familial as well as intra-familial transmission of infection may be common in this setting. The association between active trachoma and geographical information system (GIS) measured distance to water may be relevant for planning control measures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis immunotype J associated with trachoma in children in an area previously endemic for trachoma.

Chlamydia trachomatis immunotype J was isolated from the eye of a five-year-old Navajo child with trachoma. This is the first such isolate from a patient in an area previously endemic for trachoma. Chlamydial infection of the genitals among the Navajo Indians is common, and we have isolated immunotype J from the genital tract of women in this area. This most recent case points to the occurrence of "genital" trachoma. This occurrence adds evidence to the assertion that trachoma may be caused by the "genital" immunotypes of C. trachomatis. Therefore, the traditional distinction between ocular and genital strains may be artifactual.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2003

Trachoma: looking forward to Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET 2020).

There is fortunately increasing international awareness of the problem of needless blindness from trachoma and enhanced international cooperation. This is exemplified by the World Health Organization Alliance for the Global Elimination of Blinding Trachoma by 2020 (GET 2020), the World Health Assembly resolution 51.11, 1998, and the inclusion of trachoma as a priority under the disease control component of the Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness, Vision 2020--the Right to Sight. Evidence-based advances in knowledge and intervention strategies together with the additional financial resources now available offer opportunities for a concerted effort to control and eliminate blinding trachoma, long before the year 2020, in most countries.

Blindness↗
PubMed1978

Childhood trachoma in a nonendemic area. Danish trachoma patients and their close contacts, 1963 to 1973.

During ten years of study of Chlamydia trachomatis eye infections, trachoma was diagnosed in 14 Danish patients with onset during childhood. Clinical findings in the eye were characteristic of classical trachoma. The infecting C trachomatis immunotype was identified in all but one case. At the time of diagnosis, seven patients were still children (6 to 10 years of age), three were teenagers, and four were adults. In five young girls the disease was extremely severe. Delay in proper diagnosis and adequate therapy contributed to the prolongation and severity of the disease. Failure to diagnose is attributed to widespread opinion and teaching of physicians in Western countries that trachoma eye disease has disappeared. Studies of family members and other contacts of the patients contributed to an understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease. The source of initial eye infection with C trachomatis organisms in these cases was thought to be the birth canal. It was further postulated that reinfection of the eyes of these children occurred either from a reservoir in their own or their mother's genital tract.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Does the diagnosis of trachoma adequately identify ocular chlamydial infection in trachoma-endemic areas?

We evaluated the validity of clinically determined active trachoma as a surrogate for chlamydial eye infection in 1059 children from the Egyptian arm of the Azithromycin in the Control of Trachoma study. Participants were determined to be "clinically active" if they had >or=5 follicles or intense inflammatory infiltration on the tarsal conjunctiva. Conjunctival swabs were tested using ligase chain reaction (LCR) to detect chlamydial DNA. Of clinically active children aged 1-10 years, 31% did not have infection, as determined by LCR. Conversely, 31% of infected children were not clinically active; 78% of clinically active children aged 1-5 years were infected, versus 17% of those aged 11-15 years. The proportion of clinically active children who were infected decreased from 67% before treatment to 10% 14 months after mass azithromycin treatment. Clinically active trachoma is not always a reliable marker of infection, particularly in teenagers and after treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Current trends in trachoma in a previously hyperendemic area. The Trachoma Study Group.

In response to reports of an excessive number of cases of trachoma at the end of 1995 from the western parts of the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 837 children in the age-group 1-10 years were examined in three villages from where the maximum number of cases hailed. Clinically, the prevalence of trachoma was found to be 8.5% (71). The prevalence was significantly higher in males as compared to females (p < 0.05); and was observed to increase with age. 85.9% (61) of the clinically diagnosed children were active infective cases. 54.9% (39) of the clinically diagnosed cases showed the presence of antigen in the upper tarsal conjunctival scraping from the affected eye, using the Chlamydia trachomatis direct specimen kit (Syva MicroTrak, UK). It was concluded that ophthalmologists must be reoriented to the clinical diagnosis of trachoma to prevent overdiagnosis.

Child↗
PubMed1973

Effect of polycations, polyanions and neuraminidase on the infectivity of trachoma-inclusin conjunctivitis and lymphogranuloma venereum organisms HeLa cells: sialic acid residues as possible receptors for trachoma-inclusion conjunction.

The infectivity of trachoma-inclusion conjunctivitis (TRIC) organisms (TW-5) was enhanced by pretreatment of HeLa cell monolayers before inoculation with diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-dextran (30 mug/ml) and poly-l-lysine (10 mug/ml) and inhibited by dextran sulphate (250 mug/ml), fetuin (4%), ovomucoid (5%), N-acetyl neuraminic acid (0.5%), and Cholera vibrio neuraminidase (100 U/ml). The infectivity of lymphogranuloma venereum organisms (434) was not affected by DEAE-dextran, fetuin, and neuraminidase, was slightly inhibited by poly-l-lysine, and was inhibited by dextran-sulphate, ovomucoid, and N-acetyl neuraminic acid. The study suggested that sialic acid residues on the cell surface may be specific receptors for TRIC organisms. The receptors for TRIC organisms (TW-5 and TW-3) could be specifically blocked with inactivated (56 C for 30 min) TRIC organisms at the ratio of one live to 100 inactivated TRIC organisms, but not by inactivated lymphogranuloma venereum (434) or influenza virus (A(2)/Jap 305).

Binding Sites↗