Previous Trachoma Research 

Trachoma research at ICEH has involved studies in the following areas:

Management of trichiasis:

  • We have worked on several aspects of the management of trichiasis: improving the long-term outcome of eyelid surgery, the optimal treatment for the earlier stages of the disease and detailed studies on the clinical features of it. We have undertaken five large clinical trials that have explored the use of postoperative azithromycin, alternative suture materials, the role of epilation in mild disease and a comparison of different operation types and the use of postoperative doxycycline. Our research into posterior lamellar versus bilamellar tarsal rotation surgery was described as the most important work in the area in two decades

Antibiotics:

  • Alongside Stronger-SAFE we have conducted several studies into the rational use of azithromycin, looking at who should be given it and how frequently they should receive it, which has informed the current trial

Infection pathology:

  • We have explored how the human immune system reacts to chlamydial infection in order to define biomarkers for progressive disease and to identify potential therapeutic targets for progressive scarring. This has included genetic analysis of people undergoing trichiasis surgery and new methods for rapid diagnosis of C. Trachomatis

Key Publications

• Oral doxycycline after surgery for trachomatous trichiasis in Ethiopia: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
E.Habtamu, T.Wondie, S.Aweke, Z.Tadesse, M.Zerihun, B.Gashaw, C.h.Roberts, A.B.Kello, D.C.W.Mabey, S.N.Rajak, E.K.Callahan, D.Macleod, H.A.Weiss and M.J.Burton. Lancet Global Health, 2018, 6:e579-e592

• Posterior versus bilamellar tarsal rotation surgery for trachomatous trichiasis in Ethiopia: a randomised controlled trial
E.Habtamu, T.Wondie, S.Aweke, Z.Tadesse, M.Zerihun, Z.Zewudie, A.B.Kello, C.h.Roberts, P.M.Emerson, R.L.Bailey, D.C.W.Mabey, S.N.Rajak, K.Callahan, H.A.Weiss and M.J.Burton
Lancet Global Health, 2016, 4(3): e175-184

• Profound and sustained reduction in Chlamydia trachomatis in The Gambia: a five-year longitudinal study of trachoma endemic communities. M.J.Burton, M.J.Holland, P.Makalo, E.A.N.Aryee, A.Sillah, S.Cohuet, A.Natividad, N.D.E.Alexander, D.C.W.Mabey and R.L.Bailey. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2010; 4 (10): e835

• DjinniChip: Evaluation of a novel molecular rapid diagnostic device for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in trachoma-endemic areas. Tamsyn R Derrick, Natalia Sandetskaya, Harry Pickering, Andreas Kölsch, Athumani Ramadhani, Elias Mafuru, Patrick Massae, Aiweda Malisa, Tara Mtuy, Matthew J Burton, Martin J Holland, Dirk Kuhlmeier. Parasites & Vectors, 2020, In Press

• The conjunctival transcriptome in Ethiopians after trichiasis surgery: associations with the development of eyelid contour abnormalities and the effect of oral doxycycline treatment. Tamsyn Derrick, Esmael Habtamu, Zerihun Tadesse, E. Kelly Callahan, Abebaw Worku, Bizuayehu Gashaw, David Macleod, David C.W. Mabey, Martin J. Holland, Matthew J Burton. Wellcome Open Research, 2019, 4:130

• Ocular Immune Responses, Chlamydia trachomatis infection and Clinical Signs of Trachoma Before and After Azithromycin Mass Drug Administration in a Treatment Naïve Trachoma-Endemic Tanzanian Community. A.M.Ramadhani, T.Derrick, D.Macleod, P.Massae, A.Malisa, K.Mbuya, T.Mtuy, W.Makupa, C.Roberts, R.L.Bailey, D.C.W.Mabey, M.J.Holland and Matthew J. Burton PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2019, 13(7):e0007559