Spatial clustering of high load ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in trachoma: a cross-sectional population-based study

Researchers have identified spatial clusters of high bacterial load Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infections in trachoma-endemic communities on the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea Bissau. These clusters, independent of age and gender, suggest that high Ct loads may play a significant role in transmission dynamics. The study used droplet digital PCR to measure Ct load on conjunctival swabs from 1507 participants during a geospatially representative trachoma survey. Geostatistical tools were employed to analyze the spatial distribution of infections, revealing no clustering for low-load infections. This finding highlights the potential use of these tools in trachoma surveillance post-treatment to identify infection clusters and critical Ct load thresholds that could indicate re-emergent infection foci.

Last, A., Burr, S., Alexander, N., Harding-Esch, E., Roberts, C. H., Nabicassa, M., Cassama, E. T. d. S., Mabey, D., Holland, M., & Bailey, R. (2017). Spatial clustering of high load ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in trachoma: a cross-sectional population-based study. Pathogens and Disease, 75(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/femspd/ftx050