Determinants of Success in National Programs to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis: A Perspective Identifying Essential Elements and Research Needs

Dominique Kyelem Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Gautam Biswas Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Moses J. Bockarie Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Mark H. Bradley Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Maged El-Setouhy Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Peter U. Fischer Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Ralph H. Henderson Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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James W. Kazura Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Patrick J. Lammie Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Sammy M. Njenga Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Eric A. Ottesen Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Kapa D. Ramaiah Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Frank O. Richards Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Gary J. Weil Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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Steven A. Williams Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center, Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri; Center for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India; Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

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The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) was launched in 2000. To understand why some national programs have been more successful than others, a panel of individuals with expertise in LF elimination efforts met to assess available data from programs in 8 countries. The goal was to identify: 1) the factors determining success for national LF elimination programs (defined as the rapid, sustained reduction in microfilaremia/antigenemia after repeated mass drug administration [MDA]); 2) the priorities for operational research to enhance LF elimination efforts.

Of more than 40 factors identified, the most prominent were 1) initial level of LF endemicity; 2) effectiveness of vector mosquitoes; 3) MDA drug regimen; 4) population compliance.

Research important for facilitating program success was identified as either biologic (i.e., [1] quantifying differences in vectorial capacity; [2] identifying seasonal variations affecting LF transmission) or programmatic (i.e., [1] identifying quantitative thresholds, especially the population compliance levels necessary for success, and the antigenemia or microfilaremia prevalence at which MDA programs can stop with minimal risk of resumption of transmission; [2] defining optimal drug distribution strategies and timing; [3] identifying those individuals who are “persistently non-compliant” during MDAs, the reasons for this non-compliance and approaches to overcoming it).

While addressing these challenges is important, many key determinants of program success are already clearly understood; operationalizing these as soon as possible will greatly increase the potential for national program success.

Author Notes

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    Ramzy RM, El Setouhy M, Helmy H, Ahmed ES, Abd Elaziz KM, Farid HA, Shannon WD, Weil GJ, 2006. Effect of yearly mass drug administration with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole on bancroftian filariasis in Egypt: a comprehensive assessment. Lancet 367 :992–999.

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    El-Setouhy M, Abd Elaziz KM, Helmy H, Farid HA, Kamal HA, Ramzy RM, Shannon WD, Weil GJ, 2007. The effect of compliance on the impact of mass drug administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Egypt. Am J Trop Med Hyg 77 :1069–1073.

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