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About the Authors:
Siddhivinayak Hirve
* E-mail: [email protected]
Affiliation: Global Influenza Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9651-7789
Axel Kroeger
Affiliations Centre for Medicine and Society and Centre for Anthropology, Freiburg University, Freiburg, Germany, Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), hosted by the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Greg Matlashewski
Affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Dinesh Mondal
Affiliation: Nutrition and Clinical Services division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Megha Raj Banjara
Affiliation: Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Pradeep Das
Affiliation: Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, India
Ahmed Be-Nazir
Affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Byron Arana
Affiliation: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis unit, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
Piero Olliaro
Affiliation: Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), hosted by the World Health Organization, Geneva, SwitzerlandAbstract
Background
The decade following the Regional Strategic Framework for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) elimination in 2005 has shown compelling progress in the reduction of VL burden in the Indian subcontinent. The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other stakeholders, has coordinated and financed research for the development of new innovative tools and strategies to support the regional VL elimination initiative. This paper describes the process of the TDR’s engagement and contribution to this initiative.
Methodology/principal findings
Multiple databases were searched to identify 152 scientific papers and reports with WHO funding or authorship affiliation around the following 3 framework strategies: detection of new cases, morbidity reduction, and prevention of infection. TDR has played a critical role in the evaluation and subsequent use of the 39-aminoacid-recombinant kinesin antigen (rK39) rapid diagnostic test (RDT) as a confirmatory test for VL in the national program. TDR has supported the clinical research and development of miltefosine and single-dose liposomal amphotericin B as a first-line treatment against VL. TDR has engaged with in-country researchers, national programme managers, and partners to generate evidence-based interventions for early detection and treatment of VL patients. TDR evaluated the quality, community acceptance, and cost effectiveness of indoor residual spraying, insecticide-treated bed nets, insecticide-impregnated...