ArticlesRole of flies and provision of latrines in trachoma control: cluster-randomised controlled trial
Introduction
Trachoma, caused by conjunctival infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, is responsible for 15% of all blindness worldwide, and is the leading cause of preventable blindness.1 The disease is endemic in the poorest countries, where an estimated 6 million people are blind and 148 million have active infections.2 Despite this toll, trachoma has mostly been a forgotten disease of forgotten people, causing dependency and impeding development.3, 4 However, attitudes are now changing. A WHO global alliance and the International Trachoma Initiative have made major efforts to rid the world of blinding trachoma by 2020. These efforts are based on the SAFE strategy, which consists of trichiasis surgery for those at immediate risk of blindness, antibiotic distribution (supported through donation of patented pharmaceutical by Pfizer), promotion of facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement.2 SAFE implies more than a drug distribution programme, and the complete strategy needs to be implemented to reduce transmission and to clear current infections.5, 6 Implementation of the full strategy is hampered by gaps in the knowledge about transmission, which hinders policy makers and programme managers, who need to make evidence-based decisions.
We did this study to respond to the need for a strengthening of the evidence base for environmental control of trachoma and to build on the findings of our pilot study7 and other evidence associating the presence of flies on the face with active trachoma.8, 9, 10 The pilot study compared insecticide spraying with no intervention in two pairs of villages and showed a 61% (95% CI 23–80) reduction in trachoma prevalence associated with fly control but lacked statistical power11 and was unmasked.12 We aimed to test the hypothesis that eye-seeking flies are trachoma vectors.
The Bazaar fly Musca sorbens is the most likely trachoma vector since it is strongly attracted to human eyes.13, 14 Studies on its ecology have shown that it breeds preferentially in exposed human faeces, but not latrines.15, 16 We tested whether latrine provision, without additional health education, would result in fewer M sorbens contacting eyes, and hence reduce trachoma.
Section snippets
Study population, recruitment, and randomisation
We did our study in the North Bank and Central River divisions of The Gambia between September, 1999, and September, 2001. These divisions were known to have a high trachoma endemicity.17 Since fly control is best achieved at the community level, rather than by household or individual, the trial was randomised by cluster, each of which consisted of one or more closely neighbouring rural communities, to give a total population of 300–550. Clusters were at least 1·5 km apart but were not matched
Results
We surveyed 21 clusters with 8005 people. All 21 clusters were recruited and visited at follow-up; 7080 people were recruited from these clusters, and 6087 (86%) were seen at follow-up (figure 1). The number of participants lost to follow-up did not differ between either the spray and control groups (p=0·08) or between the latrine and control groups (p=0·55). The proportion lost because of travelling also did not differ between these groups (p=0·84 and p=0·57, respectively). Participants with
Discussion
This cluster-randomised controlled trial was designed to investigate whether eye-seeking flies are trachoma vectors and whether household latrines can be used by trachoma control programmes as a sustainable intervention. Consistent with our pilot study7 M sorbens was responsible for nearly all fly-eye contacts (87%). Insecticide spraying resulted in an 88% reduction in the number of M sorbens caught in children's eyes and a 56% reduction in community trachoma prevalence, compared with control
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