Publications by authors named "T R Unnasch"
Skin biopsies (Skin snips) have historically been the gold standard for the diagnosis of onchocerciasis. However, in low prevalence areas and in areas with successful ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) programs, skin snips are not sensitive enough to decide when to stop MDA; thus, serological diagnostic tools have been recommended for this purpose. This study assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the Ov16 Rapid Diagnostic Test (SD BIOLINE Onchocerciasis RDT) compared to skin snip in endemic areas undergoing ivermectin mass distribution using Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) strategy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, significantly contributes to blindness and socio-economic challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, prompting international efforts for control and elimination.
- - Initial strategies focused on controlling the black fly vectors that spread the disease, but the discovery of ivermectin led to mass drug administration (MDA) for communities affected by the disease.
- - Recent research is exploring alternative, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly methods for vector control that local communities can implement, which, when combined with ivermectin MDA, may speed up efforts to eliminate the disease.
Background: Onchocerca volvulus is a filarial parasite that is a major cause of dermatitis and blindness in endemic regions primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Widespread efforts to control the disease caused by O. volvulus infection (onchocerciasis) began in 1974 and in recent years, following successful elimination of transmission in much of the Americas, the focus of efforts in Africa has moved from control to the more challenging goal of elimination of transmission in all endemic countries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHouse Sparrows Vary Seasonally in Their Ability to Transmit West Nile Virus.
Physiol Biochem Zool
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates how seasonality affects the susceptibility and transmission of the West Nile virus (WNV) in house sparrows, focusing on the relationship between host physiological changes and the virus's prevalence.
- - It was hypothesized that sparrows would be most vulnerable to WNV during breeding and molting, but findings showed they were most transmissive in the fall, aligning with higher environmental virus prevalence.
- - While the results suggest that seasonal changes in the birds may influence arboviral cycles, the study calls for further research on other species and contexts to fully understand the dynamics of disease transmission.
Article Synopsis
- The text refers to a correction made to a previously published article in a scientific journal.
- The correction is specifically linked to the article with DOI (Digital Object Identifier) 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010682.
- Such corrections are typically made to address errors or inaccuracies in the original publication.