ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2741-1059
Current Organisation
Murdoch University
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-03-2023
DOI: 10.1111/TMI.13870
Abstract: Taenia solium is a tapeworm of global importance due to the burden of disease associated with human epilepsy caused by neurocysticercosis. Unfortunately, diagnostic challenges impede control efforts in many low and middle‐income countries. This review examines publications concerning Taenia species in the Lao PDR with a focus on T. solium to inform future research and control programmes. PubMed and Scopus databases were primary sources of evidence. Publications must have reported taeniasis or T. solium results from Lao PDR. Publications repeating results or s les were combined into unique projects. A total of 64 publications were included and summarised into 46 projects. The majority of projects applied faecal microscopy as their only diagnostic technique. As a result, the specific species of Taenia was often not determined. Only five projects used molecular techniques to identify the species observed. Only case report of neurocysticercosis has been published. The northern region was included in half the number of projects compared to the south, despite being a high‐risk area T. solium . The diagnostic challenge of determining the species of Taenia present in a faecal s le presents a significant limitation to the control of T. solium in Lao PDR and is an experience that is relevant to many other low and middle‐income countries. There must be an improved understanding of the distribution and frequency of T. solium if disease control efforts are to be intensified to reduce the burden of neurocysticercosis, as encouraged by WHO and others. It is hoped that this can be achieved through non‐biological risk mapping tools and the more frequent application of molecular tools to routine s le collection. Diagnostic tools that are applicable to low resource settings should be a priority area of research for T. solium .
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 06-07-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PNTD.0010567
Abstract: Taenia solium is the most significant global foodborne parasite and the leading cause of preventable human epilepsy in low and middle-income countries in the form of neurocysticercosis. This scoping review aimed to examine the methodology of peer-reviewed studies that estimate the burden of T . solium using disability-adjusted life years. Studies must have calculated disability-adjusted life years relating to T . solium . The review process was managed by a single reviewer using Rayyan. Published data relating to disease models, data sources, disability-adjusted life years, sensitivity, uncertainty, missing data, and key limitations were collected. 15 studies were included for review, with seven global and eight national or sub-national estimates. Studies primarily employed attributional disease models that relied on measuring the occurrence of epilepsy before applying an attributable fraction to estimate the occurrence of neurocysticercosis-associated epilepsy. This method relies heavily on the extrapolation of observational studies across populations and time periods however, it is currently required due to the difficulties in diagnosing neurocysticercosis. Studies discussed that a lack of data was a key limitation and their results likely underestimate the true burden of T . solium . Methods to calculate disability-adjusted life years varied across studies with differences in approaches to time discounting, age weighting, years of life lost, and years of life lived with disability. Such differences limit the ability to compare estimates between studies. This review illustrates the complexities associated with T . solium burden of disease studies and highlights the potential need for a burden of disease reporting framework. The burden of T . solium is likely underestimated due to the challenges in diagnosing neurocysticercosis and a lack of available data. Advancement in diagnostics, further observational studies, and new approaches to parameterising disease models are required if estimates are to improve.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 10-04-2023
DOI: 10.3390/TROPICALMED8040221
Abstract: Background: The World Health Organization has identified Taenia solium mapping tools as an important development for intensifying control in hyperendemic areas. Taenia solium has also been identified as a priority by the Lao PDR government. There is a limited understanding of the distribution of T. solium due to inherent diagnostic challenges. Method: Global and local autocorrelation statistics were applied to available risk factor data sourced from national censuses to map the risk of Taenia solium in Lao PDR. Results: Approximately 50% of villages could be considered hot spots for one or more risk factors. Different risk factor hot spots co-occurred in 30% of villages. Twenty per cent of villages were classified as hot spots for the proportion of households owning pigs and another risk factor. Northern Lao PDR was the dominant high-risk area. This is consistent with passive reports, limited surveys, and anecdotal reports. One smaller area in southern Lao PDR was also identified as high-risk. This is of particular interest because T. solium has not previously been investigated in this area. Conclusions: The methods applied provide a simple, rapid, and versatile approach that allows endemic countries to begin mapping the risk of T. solium at a sub-national level.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-07-2023
DOI: 10.1111/TMI.13917
Abstract: Taenia solium is ranked the most significant global foodborne parasite and the leading cause of epilepsy in low and middle‐income countries. Diagnostic challenges have h ered disease control efforts to date and WHO has called for the development of risk mapping tools to assist endemic countries. This study describes the application of multicriteria decision analysis to map the risk of T. solium in Lao PDR and acts as a case study for other endemic countries. Multicriteria decision analysis was completed using census data on relevant risk factors in Lao PDR. Factors were weighted using an analytical hierarchy process. Village risk scores were calculated using a weighted linear combination and categorised using the Fisher‐Jenks algorithm into low, medium, and high risk. District risk scores and categories were calculated using the mean village risk score for a district. Sensitivity analysis was completed by doubling and halving risk factor weights, one at a time, and assessing the standard deviation of scores and categories across all scenarios. A total of 2017 (23.7%) villages were classified as high risk, with 3312 (39.0%) medium and 3170 (37.3%) low risk. This resulted in 21 (14.2%) high‐risk districts, 83 (56.1%) medium and 44 (29.7%) low‐risk districts. The risk maps highlight two areas of interest which are high risk and low variation. The first is the northern province of Phongsaly, which is consistent with literature and anecdotal reports. The second is the southern Salavan and Xekong provinces, which have yet to be investigated in detail. Multicriteria decision analysis has provided a simple, rapid, and flexible approach to mapping the risk of T. solium in Lao PDR. The nature of the method means that it can be completed in any endemic country with available and appropriate risk factor data.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Andrew Larkins.