NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES IN TANZANIA

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Country operational research priorities:
Lymphatic Filariasis (LF)
1.      Strengthening the Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) in LF/Onchocerciasis endemic areas
2.      Xenomonitoring of LF during and post TAS
3.      Morbidity Mapping for LF using electronic methods
4.      LF surveillance in Post-TAS districts

Schistosomiasis (SCH)
1.      Determining the targeted population for SCH treatment
2.      Treating SCH high-risk adults in highly endemic areas
3.      Treatment of the focal population for SCH

Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) and other Helminths
1.      Community treatment of Albendazole after stopping LF treatment  
2.      Monitoring STH infection in pre-school and school-aged children
3.      Impact of STH and SCH treatment  on other helminths in Pastoralist communities

Onchocesiasis (Oncho)
1.     Strengthening TAS in Oncho-LF endemic areas
2.     Steps towards Stopping MDA in LF/Oncho co endemic districts

Trachoma
1.      Best approach to increase Trachomatous Trichiasis patients' identification and surgery uptake

Cross-cutting
1.      Cost-effectiveness of neglected tropical disease (NTD) interventions in Tanzania
2.      The impact of WASH and Vector Control interventions on NTDs
3.      Best ways of strengthening supply chain for NTD commodities
4.      Improving knowledge on NTDs using through partnerships with mobile phone companies
5.      Estimating the population of school-aged children
6.      What are the effective and appropriate diagnostics and technologies suitable for case detection at different levels?
7.      Understating sociocultural complexities, risk and management of NTDs towards their elimination
8.      Best approach for improving coverage in Nomadic/hard-to-reach communities
9.      Best ways to engage private sector and NGDOs in NTD interventions

     Definition of Neglected Tropical Diseases

•   These are diseases that are present mostly in poor communities but the community itself, leaders and experts do not give priority compared to their adverse effect to the community.
•  They are medically diverse group of tropical infections which are especially common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa,Asia, and the Americas.
•  They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminthes

    List of Neglected Community Diseases
The neglected tropical diseases include the following:

•   Helminthes infections

              o Onchocerciasis (river blindness)
              o Lymphaticfilariasis
              o Schistosomiasis(bilharzia)
              o Soil-transmitted helminthiasis
              o Taeniasis/cysticercosis,
              o Echnococcosis
              o Food borne trematode infections,
              o Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease)

•   Bacterial infections

               o Blindingtrachoma
               o Leprosy
               o Treponematoses(Tick –bornerelapsing fever, louse-borne relapsingfever,plague)

•  Viral infections

                 o Rabies
                 o Denguefever

•  Protozoan infections

                 o Human African trypanosomiasis(sleepingsickness)
                 o Leishmaniasis(visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneuous)

      Mode of Transmission of Neglected Tropical Diseases

• Some diseases are transmitted by people; others are spread by vectors like snails, flies, or mosquitoes; and several others are found in contaminated sources (like infested soil or water).

      Diseases                                                                                    Mode of Transmission                     Onchocerciasis (river blindness)                                                 Vector- Black fly
Lymphatic filariasis                                                                     Vector – Mosquito
Schistosomiasis (bilharzia)                                                         Vector – snail
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis                                                     Contaminated  food/water/soil                                                                                                                                           Taeniasis/cysticercosis,                                                                Infected meat
Echnococcosis                                                                             Animal to man
Foodborne trematode infections,                                                 Food
Blinding trachoma                                                                       Vector -Flies
Leprosy                                                                                        Droplet
Buruli ulcer                                                                                  Human
Treponematoses                                                                           Vector- Tick, lice, rodent
Rabies                                                                                          Animal bite
Dengue fever                                                                               Vector –mosquito
Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)                  Vector – tsetse fly

Control and Preventive Measures of Neglected Tropical Diseases:

  Control and Preventive Measures of Neglected Tropical Diseases

•   Access to safe water for drinking
•  Face washing
•  Hand washing
•  Cleaning of food stuffs
• Use of sanitary latrines
•  Personal hygiene
•  Personal protection against vectors
•  Maintaining environmental hygiene
•  Vector control
•  Using Preventive chemotherapy

                 o This is based on community diagnosis
                 o safe and effective medicines
                 o Targeted high-risk groups within the community. Example: School-based, Community-  based
                 o Reduces morbidity from diseases such as:
                            - soil transmitted helminthiases (STH)
                            - Schistosomiasis (SCHO),
                            - oncocerciasis (ONCHO),
                            - lymphatic filaliasis (LF)
                            - blinding trachoma.
               o Reduces the chronic complications of NTDs

      Summary

•  Neglected tropical diseases area medically diverse group of tropical infections which are especially common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas
•  Neglected tropical diseases are transmitted by people; others are spread by vectors like snails, flies, or mosquitoes; and several others are found in contaminated sources (like infested soil or water
•  Neglected tropical diseases can be prevented, controlled or eliminated by public health interventions combined with regular mass drug administration