Eliminating morbidity caused by neglected tropical diseases by 2030.

The objective of this manuscript is to provide selective examples of the work of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Parasite Epidemiology and Control which contribute to the WHO goal of eliminating neglected tropical diseases by 2030. This PAHO/WHO CC specifically aligns its activities with the Sustainable Development Goals and with the goals outlined in the WHO Road Map for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030. Its role is to contribute to advancing global action on NTDs, primarily through policy development and knowledge translation.

Progress towards elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the Americas region.

In South and Central America, lymphatic filariasis (LF) is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, which is transmitted by Culex quinquefasciatus, the only vector species in this region. Of the seven countries considered endemic for LF in the Americas in the last decade, Costa Rica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago were removed from the World Health Organization list in 2011. The remaining countries, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guyana and Haiti, have achieved important progress in recent years.

Epidemiological situation of yaws in the Americas: A systematic review in the context of a regional elimination goal.

Background: Yaws is targeted for eradication by 2020 in the WHA66.12 resolution of the World Health Assembly. The objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of yaws in the Americas and to contribute to the compilation of evidence based on published data to undertake the certification of yaws eradication.

Elimination of onchocerciasis from Colombia: first proof of concept of river blindness elimination in the world.

Background: Onchocerciasis is a chronic parasitic infection originally endemic in 13 discrete regional foci distributed among six countries of Latin America (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela). In Colombia, this disease was discovered in 1965 in the Pacific Coast of the country. The National Onchocerciasis Elimination Program was established in 1993 with the aim of eliminating disease morbidity and infection transmission.

Risk factors for treatment interruption and severe adverse effects to benznidazole in adult patients with Chagas disease.

Background: Etiological treatment of Chagas disease in chronic asymptomatic patients is still in debate and the adverse effects of traditional drugs are one of the main concerns in clinical practice. This study evaluated retrospectively the safety profile of benznidazole (BZN) and identified predictive factors for definite treatment interruption and development of severe reactions in adult patients treated with BZN in Colombia.

Methods: Retrospective follow-up study conducted by review of medical records of adults with chronic Chagas disease treated with BZN in Colombia.

Risk factors associated with Chagas disease in pregnant women in Santander, a highly endemic Colombian area.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Chagas disease in pregnant women in an endemic area of Santander, Colombia.

Methods: Cross-sectional study included 23 municipalities of Santander, Colombia. Serological IFAT and ELISA tests were undertaken to detect IgG anti- Trypanosoma cruzi.

Safety Profile of Nifurtimox and Treatment Interruption for Chronic Chagas Disease in Colombian Adults.

Nifurtimox (NFX) is one of the approved drugs used to treat Chagas disease. Safety profile studies and models on risk factors for treatment interruption in adults are scarce in Latin America. This study evaluated retrospectively the medical records of adult Chagas disease patients treated with NFX between 2007 and 2012 in Bogotá, Colombia.

Follow-up of an asymptomatic Chagas disease population of children after treatment with nifurtimox (Lampit) in a sylvatic endemic transmission area of Colombia.

Background: Chagas disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Two drugs are currently used for the etiological treatment of the disease: Nifurtimox (Lampit) and Benznidazole. This study presents a quasi-experimental trial (non-control group) of sixty-two patients who were treated for Chagas disease with Nifurtimox (Lampit), and were then followed for 30 months post-treatment.

Update on the mapping of prevalence and intensity of infection for soil-transmitted helminth infections in Latin America and the Caribbean: a call for action.

It is estimated that in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) at least 13.9 million preschool age and 35.4 million school age children are at risk of infections by soil-transmitted helminths (STH): Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale).

[The effect of ivermectin on geohelminth frequency (i.e. as used in the onchocerciasis control program in Colombia)].

Objective: Evaluating the effect of ivermectin on soil-transmitted helminthes (STH) infection frequency in a Colombian population included in the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program for the Americas (OEPA).

Methods: This was an impact evaluation study which adopted a longitudinal approach using the population of Naicioná (1996) as baseline for comparison to people from the same population as controls (2008). The cross-sectional approach involved comparing the reference population of Naicioná (2008) to the population of Dos Quebradas (2008) used as controls.

[Evaluation (assessment) of three tests for diagnosis of geohelmints in Colombia].

Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminth infections are considered a public health problem in developing countries. The diagnostic tests, both for individual parient diagnosis as for population studies should be evaluated in terms of validity and reliability.

Objective: To compare the direct examination, the modified Ritchie-Frick method, a Kato-Katz designed by a Brazilian group and one designed by the WHO, for the diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminthes.

Haplotypes associated with resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Plasmodium falciparum in two malaria endemic locations in Colombia.

Colombia has four main malaria transmission zones. In vivo efficacy studies carried out in these areas showed big differences in the response of Plasmodium falciparum to treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine. In addition, there is still insufficient information about the genetics of P.

Interventions for American cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis: a systematic review update.

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is an important public health problem in the Americas. A Cochrane review published in 2009 analyzed 38 randomized controlled trials (RCT). We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effects of therapeutic interventions for American cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

[Trypanosoma cruzi strains resistant to benznidazole occurring in Colombia].

Introduction. Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is one of the most serious public health problems in the Americas. Benznidazole is one of two drugs used to treat Chagas' disease.

Comparison of asymptomatic Plasmodium spp. infection in two malaria-endemic Colombian locations.

Background: Asymptomatic infection by Plasmodium spp. could help explain the dynamics of malaria transmission in low-transmission regions. We therefore compared the prevalence of asymptomatic infection by Plasmodium spp.

Prevalence and risk factors for Chagas disease in pregnant women in Casanare, Colombia.

Knowledge of the prevalence and risk factors associated with maternal infection is the first step to develop a surveillance system for congenital transmission of Chagas disease. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Casanare, a disease-endemic area in Colombia. A total of 982 patients were enrolled in the study.