03268nas a2200385   4500000000100000008004100001653001300042653002300055653002300078653000900101653001100110653001100121653001100132653001700143653002400160653002000184653002100204653001000225653002500235653002600260653001500286100001400301700001200315700001100327700001400338700001300352700001200365700001500377245011600392856007800508300001000586490000600596520226600602022001402868       2013                            d10aTrachoma10aParasitic Diseases10aNeglected Diseases10aMale10aInfant10aHumans10aFemale10aDrug Therapy10aDisease eradication10aData Collection10aChild, Preschool10aChild10aAntiparasitic Agents10aAnti-Bacterial Agents10aAdolescent1 aKeenan JD1 aHotez P1 aAmza A1 aStoller N1 aGaynor B1 aPorco T1 aLietman TM00aElimination and eradication of neglected tropical diseases with mass drug administrations: a survey of experts.  uhttp://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0002562  ae25620 v73 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and trachoma are the five most prevalent neglected tropical diseases in the world, and each is frequently treated with mass drug administrations. We performed a survey of neglected tropical diseases experts to elicit their opinions on the role of mass drug administrations for the elimination of these infections.</p>

<p><strong>METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: </strong>We sent an online survey to corresponding authors who had published an article about a neglected tropical disease from 2007 to 2011. Of 825 unique authors who were invited to complete the survey, 365 (44.2%) responded, including 234 (28.4%) who answered questions regarding one of the five most prevalent neglected tropical diseases. Respondents had varying opinions about the goals of programmatic activities for their chosen neglected tropical disease, with elimination or eradication identified as the most important goal by 87% of lymphatic filariasis respondents, 66% of onchocerciasis respondents, 55% of trachoma respondents, 24% of schistosomiasis respondents, and 21% of soil-transmitted helminth respondents. Mass drug administrations, other non-medication health measures, and education were generally thought to be more important for elimination than vector control, development of a new tool, or the presence of a secular trend. Drug resistance was thought to be a major limitation of mass drug administrations for all five neglected tropical diseases. Over half of respondents for lymphatic filariasis and trachoma thought that repeated mass drug administrations could eliminate infection within ten years of the initiation of mass treatments.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: </strong>Respondents for lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and trachoma were more enthusiastic about the prospects of elimination and eradication than were respondents for schistosomiasis or soil-transmitted helminths. Mass drug administrations were generally believed to be among the most important factors for the success of elimination efforts for each of the five neglected tropical diseases, highlighting the opportunity for integrating drug distributions.</p>
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