Implementing Preventive Chemotherapy through an Integrated National Neglected Tropical Disease Control Program in Mali

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of chronic infections that affect the poorest group of the populations in the world. There are currently five major NTDs targeted through mass drug treatment in the affected communities. The drug delivery can be integrated to deliver different drug packages as these NTDs often overlap in distribution. Mali is endemic with all five major NTDs. The integrated national NTD control program was implemented through the primary health care system using the community health center workers and the community drug distributors aiming at long-term sustainability. After a pilot start in three regions in 2007 without prior examples to follow on integrated mass drug administration, treatment for the five targeted NTDs was gradually scaled up and reached all endemic districts by 2009, and annual drug coverage in the targeted population has since been maintained at a high level for each of the five NTDs. Around 10 million people received one or more drug treatments each year since 2009. The country is on the way to meet the national objectives of elimination or control of these diseases. The successes and lessons learned in Mali are valuable assets to other countries looking to start similar programs

Number of persons trained under the integrated NTD control program (10.2007–03.2011).

<p>Number of persons trained under the integrated NTD control program (10.2007–03.2011).</p

Endemic situation shown as number of major target NTDs in each district in Mali.

<p>LF: lymphatic filariasis; ONCH: onchocerciasis; SCH: schistosomiasis; STH: soil-transmitted helminthiasis; TRA: trachoma. In Kidal region, the endemicity level of schistosomiasis in each district is not yet clear and further mapping is planned.</p

Number of districts targeted annually for MDA for each disease since 2005.

a<p>2011 MDA was still ongoing during drafting of this paper so these are projected figures.</p>b<p>Sikasso district in the original 59 was split into two districts to become a total of 60 districts.</p>c<p>Figures in brackets represent the cumulative geographical coverage.</p>d<p>Figures include the districts where schoolchildren were treated with ALB together with schistosomiasis MDA.</p

The NTD control program coordination structure in Mali.

<p>The NTD control program coordination structure in Mali.</p

Drug packages required for each district according to the WHO PCT guidelines.

<p>MDA1: ivermectin+albendazole; T2: praziquantel, ZTM: Zithromax. In Kidal region the endemicity level of schistosomiasis in each district is not yet clear and further mapping is planned.</p

Molecular characterization of African Swine fever viruses in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal 1989–2016

International audienceAfrican swine fever (ASF) has been endemic in sub-Saharan Africa since the 1960s. Following its introduction in Senegal, in 1957, ASF steadily progressed through West Africa, reaching Burkina Faso in 2003, and later Mali in 2016. Despite the heavy burden of disease on pig production, little information is available on the genetic diversity of Africa swine fever virus (ASFV) in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. Here, we used real-time PCR ASFV to detect the ASFV genome in samples collected between 1989 and 2016, in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal, and conventional approaches for isolate characterization. The C-terminal end of the p72 protein gene, the full E183L gene and the central variable region (CVR) within the B602L gene in ASFV genome were sequenced and compared to publicly available sequences. ASFV genome was found in 27 samples, 19 from Burkina Faso, three from Mali and five from Senegal. The phylogenetic analyses showed that all viruses belong to genotype I, with the ASFVs from Burkina Faso and Mali grouping with genotype Ia and ASFV serogroup 4, and those from Senegal with genotype Ib and the ASFV serogroup 1. The analysis of the CVR tetrameric tandem repeat sequences (TRS) showed four TRS variants in Burkina Faso, two in Senegal and one in Mali. The three countries did not share any common TRS, and all CVRs of this study differed from previously reported CVRs in West Africa, except for Senegal. Three of the five isolates from Senegal fully matched with the CVR, p72 and p54 sequences from ASFV IC96 collected during the 1996 ASF outbreak in Ivory Coast. This study shows the spread of the same ASFV strains across countries, highlighting the importance of continuous m;onitoring of ASFV isolates. It also calls for an urgent need to establish a regional plan for the control and eradication of ASF in West Afric