{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T15:38:54Z","timestamp":1792597134622,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":60,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,11]],"date-time":"2024-03-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1710115200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,11]],"date-time":"2024-03-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1710115200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Parasites Vectors"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Onchocerciasis is endemic in 14 of Sierra Leone's 16 districts with high prevalence (47\u201388.5%) according to skin snips at baseline. After 11 rounds of mass treatment with ivermectin with good coverage, an impact assessment was conducted in 2017 to assess the progress towards eliminating onchocerciasis in the country.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cluster survey was conducted, either integrated with lymphatic filariasis (LF) transmission assessment survey (TAS) or standalone with the LF TAS sampling strategy in 12 (now 14) endemic districts. Finger prick blood samples of randomly selected children in Grades 1\u20134 were tested in the field using SD Bioline Onchocerciasis IgG4 rapid tests.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In total, 17,402 children aged 4\u201319\u00a0years in 177 schools were tested, and data from 17,364 children aged 4\u201314\u00a0years (14,230 children aged 5\u20139\u00a0years) were analyzed. Three hundred forty-six children were confirmed positive for Ov-16 IgG4 antibodies, a prevalence of 2.0% (95% CI 1.8\u20132.2%) in children aged 4\u201314\u00a0years with prevalence increasing with age. Prevalence in boys (2.4%; 95% CI 2.1\u20132.7%) was higher than in girls (1.6%; 95% CI 1.4\u20131.9%). There was a trend of continued reduction from baseline to 2010. Using data from children aged 5\u20139\u00a0years, overall prevalence was 1.7% (95% CI 1.5\u20131.9%). The site prevalence ranged from 0 to 33.3% (median prevalence\u2009=\u20090.0%): &lt;\u20092% in 127 schools, 2 to &lt;\u20095% in 34 schools and \u2265\u20095% in 16 schools. There was a significant difference in average prevalence between districts. Using spatial analysis, the Ov-16 IgG4 antibody prevalence was predicted to be &lt; 2% in coastal areas and in large parts of Koinadugu, Bombali and Tonkolili Districts, while high prevalence (&gt;\u20095%) was predicted in some focal areas, centered in Karene, Kailahun and Moyamba\/Tonkolili.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Low Ov-16 IgG4 antibody prevalence was shown in most areas across Sierra Leone. In particular, low seroprevalence in children aged 5\u20139\u00a0years suggests that the infection was reduced to a low level after 11 rounds of treatment intervention. Sierra Leone has made major progress towards elimination of onchocerciasis. However, attention must be paid to those high prevalence focal areas.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Graphical Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-024-06198-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,11]],"date-time":"2024-03-11T06:02:11Z","timestamp":1710136931000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Impact assessment of onchocerciasis through lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment surveys using Ov-16 rapid diagnostic tests in Sierra Leone"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Ibrahim","family":"Kargbo-Labour","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohamed S.","family":"Bah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Natalie V. S. Vinkeles","family":"Melchers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdulai","family":"Conteh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Victoria","family":"Redwood-Sawyerr","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wilma A.","family":"Stolk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jusufu","family":"Paye","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mustapha","family":"Sonnie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amy","family":"Veinoglou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joseph B.","family":"Koroma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mary H.","family":"Hodges","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angela M.","family":"Weaver","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yaobi","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"6198_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e489","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(20)30488-5","volume":"9","author":"MJ Burton","year":"2021","unstructured":"Burton MJ, Ramke J, Marques AP, Bourne RRA, Congdon N, Jones I, et al. The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health: vision beyond 2020. Lancet Glob Health. 2021;9:e489\u2013551.","journal-title":"Lancet Glob Health"},{"key":"6198_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"283","DOI":"10.1179\/000349802125000826","volume":"96","author":"ME Murdoch","year":"2002","unstructured":"Murdoch ME, Asuzu MC, Hagan M, Makunde WH, Ngoumou P, Ogbuagu KF, et al. Onchocerciasis: the clinical and epidemiological burden of skin disease in Africa. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2002;96:283\u201396.","journal-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol"},{"key":"6198_CR3","unstructured":"WHO. Elimination of human onchocerciasis: progress report, 2021. Weekly Epidemiological Record 2022; 97:591\u201398."},{"key":"6198_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009604","volume":"15","author":"NVS Vinkeles Melchers","year":"2021","unstructured":"Vinkeles Melchers NVS, Stolk WA, van Loon W, Pedrique B, Bakker R, Murdoch ME, et al. The burden of skin disease and eye disease due to onchocerciasis in countries formerly under the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control mandate for 1990, 2020, and 2030. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15:e0009604.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"6198_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1179\/136485908X337427","volume":"102","author":"B Boatin","year":"2008","unstructured":"Boatin B. The Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP). Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2008;102:13\u20137.","journal-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol"},{"key":"6198_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.1177\/004947550303300407","volume":"33","author":"BA Boatin","year":"2003","unstructured":"Boatin BA. The current state of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa. Trop Doct. 2003;33:209\u201314.","journal-title":"Trop Doct"},{"key":"6198_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1179\/136485908X337436","volume":"102","author":"U Amazigo","year":"2008","unstructured":"Amazigo U. The African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC). Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2008;102:19\u201322.","journal-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol"},{"key":"6198_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-7-325","volume":"7","author":"M Noma","year":"2014","unstructured":"Noma M, Zoure HG, Tekle AH, Enyong PA, Nwoke BE, Remme JH. The geographic distribution of onchocerciasis in the 20 participating countries of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control: (1) priority areas for ivermectin treatment. Parasit Vectors. 2014;7:325.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6198_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1179\/136485908X337445","volume":"102","author":"L Yameogo","year":"2008","unstructured":"Yameogo L. Special intervention zones. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2008;102:23\u20134.","journal-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol"},{"key":"6198_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0000497","volume":"3","author":"L Diawara","year":"2009","unstructured":"Diawara L, Traore MO, Badji A, Bissan Y, Doumbia K, Goita SF, et al. Feasibility of onchocerciasis elimination with ivermectin treatment in endemic foci in Africa: first evidence from studies in Mali and Senegal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2009;3:e497.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"6198_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0001825","volume":"6","author":"MO Traore","year":"2012","unstructured":"Traore MO, Sarr MD, Badji A, Bissan Y, Diawara L, Doumbia K, et al. Proof-of-principle of onchocerciasis elimination with ivermectin treatment in endemic foci in Africa: final results of a study in Mali and Senegal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012;6:e1825.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"6198_CR12","unstructured":"WHO\/APOC. Conceptual and operational framework of onchocerciasis elimination with ivermectin treatment. African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, World Health Organization; 2010."},{"key":"6198_CR13","volume-title":"Ending the neglect to attain the sustainable development goals\u2014a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021\u20132030","author":"WHO","year":"2020","unstructured":"WHO. Ending the neglect to attain the sustainable development goals\u2014a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021\u20132030. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020."},{"key":"6198_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1186\/s40249-018-0410-y","volume":"7","author":"JB Koroma","year":"2018","unstructured":"Koroma JB, Sesay S, Conteh A, Koudou B, Paye J, Bah M, et al. Impact of five annual rounds of mass drug administration with ivermectin on onchocerciasis in Sierra Leone. Infect Dis Poverty. 2018;7:30.","journal-title":"Infect Dis Poverty"},{"key":"6198_CR15","unstructured":"WHO. Onchocerciasis control in Sierra Leone: achievements and prospects after OCP. World Health Organization; 2002."},{"key":"6198_CR16","first-page":"75","volume":"43","author":"KY Dadzie","year":"1992","unstructured":"Dadzie KY, De Sole G, Remme J. Ocular onchocerciasis and the intensity of infection in the community. IV. The degraded forest of Sierra Leone. Trop Med Parasitol. 1992;43:75\u20139.","journal-title":"Trop Med Parasitol"},{"key":"6198_CR17","first-page":"415","volume":"37","author":"JP McMahon","year":"1967","unstructured":"McMahon JP. A review of the control of Simulium vectors of onchocerciasis. Bull World Health Organ. 1967;37:415\u201330.","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ"},{"key":"6198_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1080\/00034983.1995.11812930","volume":"89","author":"Y Bissan","year":"1995","unstructured":"Bissan Y, Hougard JM, Doucoure K, Akpoboua A, Back C, Poudiougo P, et al. Drastic reduction of populations of Simulium sirbanum (Diptera: Simuliidae) in central Sierra Leone after 5 years of larviciding operations by the Onchocerciasis Control Programme. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1995;89:63\u201372.","journal-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol"},{"key":"6198_CR19","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Post-OCP onchocerciasis control in Sierra Leone. Ouagadougou: Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 2002."},{"key":"6198_CR20","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Report on the first mass ivermectin treatment in Taia and Gbangbaia river basins in Sierra Leone. World Health Organization Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 1990."},{"key":"6198_CR21","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Annual report of onchocerciasis control activities in Sierra Leone in 1991. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 1991."},{"key":"6198_CR22","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Annual report of onchocerciasis control activities in Sierra Leone in 1992. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 1992."},{"key":"6198_CR23","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Report on the the first large scale Mectizan distribution of the Kaba II, Mabole II and Mongo I river basins and the Mectizan perception: study from March 20 to April 30, 1993. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 1993."},{"key":"6198_CR24","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Annual report of onchocerciasis control activities in Sierra Leone: 1994. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 1994."},{"key":"6198_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.1016\/j.inhe.2011.03.003","volume":"3","author":"ME Hodges","year":"2011","unstructured":"Hodges ME, Koroma JB, Sonnie M, Kennedy N, Cotter E, MacArthur C. Neglected tropical disease control in post-war Sierra Leone using the Onchocerciasis Control Programme as a platform. Int Health. 2011;3:69\u201374.","journal-title":"Int Health"},{"key":"6198_CR26","unstructured":"WHO\/APOC. Report of the second review and planning meeting of the activities in the Special Interventions Zones: from 26 to 28 January 2004. African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control; 2004."},{"key":"6198_CR27","unstructured":"WHO\/APOC. Report mission Sierra Leone: 19 September\u20134th October 2004. African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control; 2004."},{"key":"6198_CR28","unstructured":"WHO\/APOC. Strategic reorganisation of CDTI in Sierra Leone: Mission report, 16th\u201326th April 2005. African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control; 2005."},{"key":"6198_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-3-120","volume":"3","author":"MH Hodges","year":"2010","unstructured":"Hodges MH, Smith SJ, Fussum D, Koroma JB, Conteh A, Sonnie M, et al. High coverage of mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis in rural and non-rural settings in the Western Area. Sierra Leone Parasit Vectors. 2010;3:120.","journal-title":"Sierra Leone Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6198_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"154","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-017-2090-z","volume":"10","author":"ML Eberhard","year":"2017","unstructured":"Eberhard ML, Cupp EW, Katholi CR, Richards FO, Unnasch TR. Skin snips have no role in programmatic evaluations for onchocerciasis elimination: a reply to Bottomley et al. Parasit Vectors. 2017;10:154.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6198_CR31","volume-title":"Guidelines for stopping mass drug administration and verifying elimination of human onchocerciasis: Criteria and procedures","author":"WHO","year":"2016","unstructured":"WHO. Guidelines for stopping mass drug administration and verifying elimination of human onchocerciasis: Criteria and procedures. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016."},{"key":"6198_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1796","DOI":"10.1086\/317629","volume":"182","author":"GJ Weil","year":"2000","unstructured":"Weil GJ, Steel C, Liftis F, Li BW, Mearns G, Lobos E, et al. A rapid-format antibody card test for diagnosis of onchocerciasis. J Infect Dis. 2000;182:1796\u20139.","journal-title":"J Infect Dis"},{"key":"6198_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"896","DOI":"10.1128\/CVI.00227-15","volume":"22","author":"C Steel","year":"2015","unstructured":"Steel C, Golden A, Stevens E, Yokobe L, Domingo GJ, de los Santos T, et al. Rapid point-of-contact tool for mapping and integrated surveillance of Wuchereria bancrofti and Onchocerca volvulus infection. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2015;22:896\u2013901.","journal-title":"Clin Vaccine Immunol"},{"key":"6198_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1086\/505081","volume":"194","author":"EM Lipner","year":"2006","unstructured":"Lipner EM, Dembele N, Souleymane S, Alley WS, Prevots DR, Toe L, et al. Field applicability of a rapid-format anti-Ov-16 antibody test for the assessment of onchocerciasis control measures in regions of endemicity. J Infect Dis. 2006;194:216\u201321.","journal-title":"J Infect Dis"},{"key":"6198_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0005884","volume":"11","author":"Y Dieye","year":"2017","unstructured":"Dieye Y, Storey HL, Barrett KL, Gerth-Guyette E, Di Giorgio L, Golden A, et al. Feasibility of utilizing the SD BIOLINE Onchocerciasis IgG4 rapid test in onchocerciasis surveillance in Senegal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017;11:e0005884.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"6198_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"338","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-016-1623-1","volume":"9","author":"A Golden","year":"2016","unstructured":"Golden A, Faulx D, Kalnoky M, Stevens E, Yokobe L, Peck R, et al. Analysis of age-dependent trends in Ov16 IgG4 seroprevalence to onchocerciasis. Parasit Vectors. 2016;9:338.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6198_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0008877","volume":"14","author":"YM Bah","year":"2020","unstructured":"Bah YM, Paye J, Bah MS, Conteh A, Redwood-Sawyerr V, Sonnie M, et al. Achievements and challenges of lymphatic filariasis elimination in Sierra Leone. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020;14:e0008877.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"6198_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-5-10","volume":"5","author":"JB Koroma","year":"2012","unstructured":"Koroma JB, Bangura MM, Hodges MH, Bah MS, Zhang Y, Bockarie MJ. Lymphatic filariasis mapping by immunochromatographic test cards and baseline microfilaria survey prior to mass drug administration in Sierra Leone. Parasit Vectors. 2012;5:10.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6198_CR39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"334","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-018-2915-4","volume":"11","author":"JB Koroma","year":"2018","unstructured":"Koroma JB, Sesay S, Conteh A, Paye J, Bah M, Sonnie M, et al. Progress on elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Sierra Leone. Parasit Vectors. 2018;11:334.","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"6198_CR40","unstructured":"Survey Sample Builder. https:\/\/www.cor-ntd.org\/resources\/transmission-assessment-survey-sample-builder. Accessed 6 March 2023."},{"key":"6198_CR41","unstructured":"WHO. Global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: monitoring and epidemiological assessment of mass drug administration: a manual for national elimination programs: World Health Organization; 2011."},{"key":"6198_CR42","unstructured":"WHO. Report of the 1st Meeting of the WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup, Varemb\u00e9 Conference Centre. Geneva, Switzerland, 10\u201312 October 2017. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017."},{"key":"6198_CR43","unstructured":"WHO Institutional Repository for Information Sharing. https:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/. Accessed 28 July 2023."},{"key":"6198_CR44","volume-title":"Sierra Leone demographic and health survey","author":"StatisticsSL","year":"2005","unstructured":"StatisticsSL. Sierra Leone demographic and health survey. Rockville: ICF International; 2005."},{"key":"6198_CR45","volume-title":"Sierra Leone demographic and health survey","author":"StatisticsSL","year":"2014","unstructured":"StatisticsSL. Sierra Leone demographic and health survey. Rockville: ICF International; 2014."},{"key":"6198_CR46","unstructured":"Free Software Foundation, GNU PSPP statistical software. https:\/\/www.gnu.org\/software\/pspp\/. Accessed 9 March 2023."},{"key":"6198_CR47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0005314","volume":"11","author":"YL Lont","year":"2017","unstructured":"Lont YL, Coffeng LE, de Vlas SJ, Golden A, de Los ST, Domingo GJ, et al. Modelling anti-Ov16 IgG4 antibody prevalence as an indicator for evaluation and decision making in onchocerciasis elimination programmes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017;11:e0005314.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"6198_CR48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"658","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.21-1201","volume":"107","author":"HC Nana-Djeunga","year":"2022","unstructured":"Nana-Djeunga HC, Sicard CM, Mogoung-Wafo AE, Chesnais CB, Deleglise H, Touka-Nounkeu R, et al. Changes in onchocerciasis Ov16 IgG4 rapid diagnostic test results over one-month follow-up: lessons for reading timeframe and decision-making. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022;107:658\u201361.","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"key":"6198_CR49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0069231","volume":"8","author":"A Golden","year":"2013","unstructured":"Golden A, Steel C, Yokobe L, Jackson E, Barney R, Kubofcik J, et al. Extended result reading window in lateral flow tests detecting exposure to Onchocerca volvulus: a new technology to improve epidemiological surveillance tools. PLoS ONE. 2013;8:e69231.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"6198_CR50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens9060435","volume":"9","author":"A Hotterbeekx","year":"2020","unstructured":"Hotterbeekx A, Perneel J, Mandro M, Abhafule G, Siewe Fodjo JN, Dusabimana A, et al. Comparison of diagnostic tests for Onchocerca volvulus in the democratic republic of Congo. Pathogens. 2020;9:435.","journal-title":"Pathogens"},{"key":"6198_CR51","volume-title":"Report of the Third Meeting of the WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup. Geneva, 26\u201328 February 2019","author":"WHO","year":"2020","unstructured":"WHO. Report of the Third Meeting of the WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup. Geneva, 26\u201328 February 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020."},{"key":"6198_CR52","volume-title":"Report on the fourth meeting of the WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup: virtual meeting, 28\u201329 October 2020","author":"WHO","year":"2021","unstructured":"WHO. Report on the fourth meeting of the WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup: virtual meeting, 28\u201329 October 2020. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021."},{"key":"6198_CR53","volume-title":"Report of the sixth meeting of the WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup: virtual meeting, 19\u201321 December 2022","author":"WHO","year":"2023","unstructured":"WHO. Report of the sixth meeting of the WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup: virtual meeting, 19\u201321 December 2022. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023."},{"key":"6198_CR54","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Ivermectin distribution in northern Sierra Leone: mission 1. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 1993."},{"key":"6198_CR55","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Onchocerciasis control activities of the eleven participating countries of OCP\u20141996. 1996."},{"key":"6198_CR56","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Joint report of the 11 participating countries on onchocerciasis control activities. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 1997."},{"key":"6198_CR57","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Progress report on the implementation of transfer activities of the Onchocerciais Control Programme (1st September 1997\u201331 August 1998): Sierra Leone. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 1998."},{"key":"6198_CR58","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Summary of progress report on the implementation of transfered activities to the national onchocerciasis control programmes. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 2000."},{"key":"6198_CR59","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Progress report on the implementation of transfered activities to the national onchocerciasis control programmes (1st September 2000\u201331 August 2001): Sierra Leone. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 2001."},{"key":"6198_CR60","unstructured":"WHO\/OCP. Progress report on the implementation of transfered activities to the national onchocerciasis control programmes: Sierra Leone. Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa; 2002."}],"container-title":["Parasites &amp; Vectors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06198-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06198-5\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06198-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,11]],"date-time":"2024-03-11T06:08:13Z","timestamp":1710137293000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06198-5"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,11]]},"references-count":60,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12]]}},"alternative-id":["6198"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13071-024-06198-5","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-3327045\/v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1756-3305"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1756-3305","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,11]]},"assertion":[{"value":"5 September 2023","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"15 February 2024","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"11 March 2024","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The onchocerciasis impact assessment was part of the monitoring and evaluation activities of the national NTD elimination program and was conducted by the NTDP of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) Sierra Leone per WHO recommendations. Ethical approval for the survey was obtained from the MOHS Research and Ethics Committee. Prior to the surveys, letters from the national NTDP to the traditional authorities requesting permission to carry out the survey were delivered by the DHMTs. Oral informed consent\/assent was first obtained from head teachers and\/or village chiefs and then from parents\/guardians on behalf of each child and by each child participant before samples were collected, and their acceptance was recorded on a form by the leader of the survey team, as literacy rates are low in the country. All participants were eligible for inclusion without discrimination on gender, social status, religion or ethnicity. Recruitment was voluntary, and participants were encouraged to ask questions concerning the survey and their right not to participate and\/or to withdraw at any time without repercussions. The data were securely stored in the NTDP database, and no identity of participants can be revealed upon publication of this paper.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare that they have no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"121"}}