Deworm3 collection launched in PLOS NTDs
The Deworm3 Project has launched the DeWorm3 collection in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases journal. This ongoing collection of papers will detail the research findings of a project that is seeking to build the evidence-base around the feasibiliy of disrupting the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths.
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are estimated to effect approximately 1.45billion people globally. These infections can cause chronic and debilitating effects on human health and development. Chronic STH infections can contribute to malnutrition, iron-deficiency anemia, and mental and physical growth delay.
The DeWorm3 project is conducting five-year cluster randomised trial in Benin, India and Malawi to test the feasibility of interrupting the transmission of STH infections and to develop effective strategies for scaling-up transmission interruption programmes.
The US$27 million initiative is a research collaboration led by the Natural History Museum which involves fellow LCNTDR members from Imperial College London and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The PLOS NTDs: DeWorm3 collection compiles numerous studies on STHs, including:
- A protocol to evaluate the sustainability, scalability, and replicability of STH transmission interruption
- A protocol to conduct a series of cluster randomized trials in Benin, India and Malawi to evaluate the impact of biannual community-wide mass drug administration (MDA) with albendazole compared to the current standard of care
- An analysis of the impact of different diagnostic tools to aid in STH transmission elimination
Additional articles will be added to the collection as the STH elimination evidence base continues to grow.