Potential Impact of a Diagnostic Test for Detecting Prepatent Guinea Worm Infections in Dogs.

ABSTRACT: Chad has seen a considerable reduction in cases of Guinea worm disease (or dracunculiasis) in domestic dogs in recent years. Tethering of dogs and application of Abate® larvicide to water sources appear to have contributed to this progress, but with 767 reported dog cases in 2021, accelerating elimination of the disease in Chad may require additional tools. We investigate the potential benefits of a hypothetical diagnostic test that could be capable of detecting prepatent infections in dogs. We adapt an agent-based simulation model for forecasting the impact of interventions on guinea worm disease in dogs to examine the interaction of multiple test factors including test accuracy, when the test can detect infection, dog selection, and dog-owner compliance with tethering recommendations. We

SUBMITTER: Smalley H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11066357 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature