Rickettsiae in Myanmar

NCT ID: NCT03847870

Last Updated: 2020-01-13

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Total Enrollment

700 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-06-20

Study Completion Date

2019-10-25

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Rickettsial infections have been found to be the second most common cause of non-malarial febrile illness in Southeast Asia, just after dengue, and are largely neglected treatable causes of morbidity and mortality. The rickettsiae can be divided into three major groups: the scrub typhus group (STG), the typhus group (TG) and the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsial infections typically present with an acute fever and are difficult to diagnose due to the many different causes of undifferentiated fever in Southeast Asia. Rickettsial IgG seroprevalence, reflecting past infection, will give an estimate of the burden of rickettsial infections in the population. Background seroprevalence studies in countries around Myanmar have found high rates of rickettsial infections. Yet, in Myanmar there have been no prevalence studies on rickettsial infections since the Second World War. We plan to determine IgG levels to the three different groups of rickettsial infections in leftover blood samples in several clinics and hospitals in different regions of Myanmar.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Rickettsial infections have been found to be the second most common cause of non-malarial febrile illness in Southeast Asia, just after dengue, and are largely neglected treatable causes of morbidity and mortality. The rickettsiae can be divided into three major groups: the scrub typhus group (STG), the typhus group (TG) and the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsial infections typically present with an acute fever and are difficult to diagnose due to the many different causes of undifferentiated fever in Southeast Asia. Rickettsial IgG seroprevalence, reflecting past infection, will give an estimate of the burden of rickettsial infections in the population. The current best test for IgG serological diagnosis of previous rickettsial infections is the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). IFA has several limitations

in that it is difficult to standardize due to operator subjectivity, it needs appropriate local diagnostic cut- offs and requires improvement in terms of standardization and ease of use. An alternative serological test that is cheaper and is easier to use is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which is more suited to screen for the burden of rickettsial diseases in low-resource countries. Background seroprevalence studies in countries around Myanmar have found high rates of rickettsial infections. Yet, in Myanmar there have been no prevalence studies on rickettsial infections since the Second World War. We plan to determine IgG levels to the three different groups of rickettsial infections in leftover blood samples in several clinics and hospitals in different regions of Myanmar. Participants with leftover blood samples after having undergone a blood draw for any clinical reason or a blood donation will be requested to participate in the study. The participant will be informed about the study and requested to provide informed consent when agreeing to participate. The leftover sample will be anonymized and frozen. The gender, age and location of clinic/hospital of the participant will be recorded. All samples will be tested for IgG antibodies using an in-house ELISA test in the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Bangkok, Thailand for scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi strains Karp, Kato, Gilliam and TA716), murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi strain type Wilmington), and spotted fever rickettsioses (Rickettsia honei and Rickettsia conorii). If the sample tests positive for IgG antibodies, an IFA test will be performed as the gold standard reference test to confirm the finding. The anonymous samples will be discarded as soon as they are no longer needed for the study. The population investigated will be 700 patients attending seven different clinics and hospitals in different regions of Myanmar with each site including 100 patients.

We will include patients at the following study sites:

1. Himalaya general clinic, Puta-O, Kachin;
2. Lily general clinic, Thanbyuzayat, Mon;
3. Orchid general clinic, Hlaing Thar Yar, Yangon;
4. Winka general clinic, Winka, Kayin;
5. Monywa Hospital, Sagaing;
6. Mandalay General Hospital and University of Medicine, Mandalay;
7. Magway General Hospital, Magway This is a minimal risk study. The participants will not have to undergo any additional procedures, since we will be using leftover blood samples that have been collected for routine clinical tests to study the background levels of previous rickettsial infections. Participation in this study is voluntary. Subjects who decline to participate will have no impact on the care they receive at the hospital or clinic. There will be no incentives or compensation for study participation.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Rickettsiae Infections

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Observational Model Type

OTHER

Study Time Perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

MORU in-house ELISA test followed by IFA if positive

An in-house rickettsial IgG ELISA test will be used for this study to determine previous rickettsial infections by measuring IgG levels. All specimens will be tested for IgG antibodies using ELISA tests for scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi strains Karp, Kato, Gilliam and TA716), murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi strain type Wilmington), and spotted fever rickettsiosis (Rickettsia honei and Rickettsia conorii). If the sample tests positive, it will be retested for the same antigens using the IFA test. The sample will be considered positive if both the ELISA and the IFA are positive.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Male and female, all age groups, requiring a blood draw for a routine clinical purpose

Exclusion Criteria

* Leftover blood sample of less than 500μL
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

National Health Laboratory, Myanmar

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Magway General Hospital, Magway

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Monywa Hospital, Sagaing

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Mandalay General Hospital and University of Medicine, Mandalay

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Medicine, Magway

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Medical Action Myanmar

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Elizabeth Anne Ashley, Dr

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

Stuart Blacksell, Prof

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit

Philip Elders, MSc

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

Wei Yan Aung Htay, Dr

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

Yin Yin Htwe, Dr

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

National Health Laboratory, Myanmar

Myat Myat Moe, Dr

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Magway General Hospital, Magway

Wai Mon Kyaw, Dr

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Monywa Hospital, Sagaing

Ni Ni Zaw, Dr

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Mandalay General Hospital and University of Medicine, Mandalay

Win May Thein, Prof

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Mandalay General Hospital and University of Medicine, Mandalay

Thin Thin Nwe, Prof

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Medicine, Magway

Kyaw Soe, BSc

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

Ampai Tanganuchitcharnchai, BSc

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit

Ni Ni Tun, Dr

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit and Medical Action Myanmar

Frank Smithuis, Prof

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit and Medical Action Myanmar

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit

Yangon, , Burma

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Burma

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Acestor N, Cooksey R, Newton PN, Menard D, Guerin PJ, Nakagawa J, Christophel E, Gonzalez IJ, Bell D. Mapping the aetiology of non-malarial febrile illness in Southeast Asia through a systematic review--terra incognita impairing treatment policies. PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e44269. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044269. Epub 2012 Sep 6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22970193 (View on PubMed)

Aung AK, Spelman DW, Murray RJ, Graves S. Rickettsial infections in Southeast Asia: implications for local populace and febrile returned travelers. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014 Sep;91(3):451-60. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0191. Epub 2014 Jun 23.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24957537 (View on PubMed)

Trung NV, Hoi LT, Thuong NTH, Toan TK, Huong TTK, Hoa TM, Fox A, Kinh NV, van Doorn HR, Wertheim HFL, Bryant JE, Nadjm B. Seroprevalence of Scrub Typhus, Typhus, and Spotted Fever Among Rural and Urban Populations of Northern Vietnam. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2017 May;96(5):1084-1087. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0399.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28500808 (View on PubMed)

Walker DH. Rickettsial diseases in travelers. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2003 Feb;1(1):35-40. doi: 10.1016/S1477-8939(03)00025-5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17291879 (View on PubMed)

PicKard AL, McDaniel P, Miller RS, Uthaimongkol N, Buathong N, Murray CK, Telford SR 3rd, Parola P, Wongsrichanalai C. A study of'febrile illnesses on the Thai-Myanmar border: predictive factors of rickettsioses. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2004 Sep;35(3):657-63.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15689083 (View on PubMed)

Saraswati K, Day NPJ, Mukaka M, Blacksell SD. Scrub typhus point-of-care testing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018 Mar 26;12(3):e0006330. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006330. eCollection 2018 Mar.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29579046 (View on PubMed)

Bonell A, Lubell Y, Newton PN, Crump JA, Paris DH. Estimating the burden of scrub typhus: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Sep 25;11(9):e0005838. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005838. eCollection 2017 Sep.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28945755 (View on PubMed)

Taylor AJ, Paris DH, Newton PN. A Systematic Review of Mortality from Untreated Scrub Typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi). PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Aug 14;9(8):e0003971. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003971. eCollection 2015.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26274584 (View on PubMed)

Civen R, Ngo V. Murine typhus: an unrecognized suburban vectorborne disease. Clin Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 15;46(6):913-8. doi: 10.1086/527443.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18260783 (View on PubMed)

Uchiyama T. Tropism and pathogenicity of rickettsiae. Front Microbiol. 2012 Jun 25;3:230. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00230. eCollection 2012.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22737150 (View on PubMed)

Phimda K, Hoontrakul S, Suttinont C, Chareonwat S, Losuwanaluk K, Chueasuwanchai S, Chierakul W, Suwancharoen D, Silpasakorn S, Saisongkorh W, Peacock SJ, Day NP, Suputtamongkol Y. Doxycycline versus azithromycin for treatment of leptospirosis and scrub typhus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2007 Sep;51(9):3259-63. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00508-07. Epub 2007 Jul 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17638700 (View on PubMed)

Blacksell SD, Lim C, Tanganuchitcharnchai A, Jintaworn S, Kantipong P, Richards AL, Paris DH, Limmathurotsakul D, Day NPJ. Optimal Cutoff and Accuracy of an IgM Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Diagnosis of Acute Scrub Typhus in Northern Thailand: an Alternative Reference Method to the IgM Immunofluorescence Assay. J Clin Microbiol. 2016 Jun;54(6):1472-1478. doi: 10.1128/JCM.02744-15. Epub 2016 Mar 23.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27008880 (View on PubMed)

Phetsouvanh R, Thojaikong T, Phoumin P, Sibounheuang B, Phommasone K, Chansamouth V, Lee SJ, Newton PN, Blacksell SD. Inter- and intra-operator variability in the reading of indirect immunofluorescence assays for the serological diagnosis of scrub typhus and murine typhus. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 May;88(5):932-936. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0325. Epub 2013 Mar 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23478577 (View on PubMed)

Blacksell SD, Bryant NJ, Paris DH, Doust JA, Sakoda Y, Day NP. Scrub typhus serologic testing with the indirect immunofluorescence method as a diagnostic gold standard: a lack of consensus leads to a lot of confusion. Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Feb 1;44(3):391-401. doi: 10.1086/510585. Epub 2007 Jan 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17205447 (View on PubMed)

Blacksell SD, Tanganuchitcharnchai A, Nawtaisong P, Kantipong P, Laongnualpanich A, Day NP, Paris DH. Diagnostic Accuracy of the InBios Scrub Typhus Detect Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay for the Detection of IgM Antibodies in Northern Thailand. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2015 Dec 9;23(2):148-54. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00553-15. Print 2016 Feb.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26656118 (View on PubMed)

Blacksell SD, Kingston HWF, Tanganuchitcharnchai A, Phanichkrivalkosil M, Hossain M, Hossain A, Ghose A, Leopold SJ, Dondorp AM, Day NPJ, Paris DH. Diagnostic Accuracy of the InBios Scrub Typhus Detect ELISA for the Detection of IgM Antibodies in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2018 Sep 1;3(3):95. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed3030095.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30274491 (View on PubMed)

Lim C, Paris DH, Blacksell SD, Laongnualpanich A, Kantipong P, Chierakul W, Wuthiekanun V, Day NP, Cooper BS, Limmathurotsakul D. How to Determine the Accuracy of an Alternative Diagnostic Test when It Is Actually Better than the Reference Tests: A Re-Evaluation of Diagnostic Tests for Scrub Typhus Using Bayesian LCMs. PLoS One. 2015 May 29;10(5):e0114930. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114930. eCollection 2015.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26024375 (View on PubMed)

Pote K, Narang R, Deshmukh P. Diagnostic performance of serological tests to detect antibodies against acute scrub typhus infection in central India. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2018 Jan-Mar;36(1):108-112. doi: 10.4103/ijmm.IJMM_17_405.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29735837 (View on PubMed)

Rawat V, Singh RK, Kumar A, Singh Y, Chaturvedi P, Saxena SR, Varshney U. Diagnostic validation of IgM and IgG ELISA and real-time PCR in detecting scrub typhus infection in endemic regions. J Vector Borne Dis. 2018 Apr-Jun;55(2):165-167. doi: 10.4103/0972-9062.242565. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30280716 (View on PubMed)

Yang SL, Tsai KH, Chen HF, Luo JY, Shu PY. Evaluation of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Recombinant 56-kDa Type-Specific Antigens Derived from Multiple Orientia tsutsugamushi Strains for Detection of Scrub Typhus Infection. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019 Mar;100(3):532-539. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0391.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30526730 (View on PubMed)

Tshokey T, Stenos J, Durrheim DN, Eastwood K, Nguyen C, Graves SR. Seroprevalence of rickettsial infections and Q fever in Bhutan. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Nov 27;11(11):e0006107. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006107. eCollection 2017 Nov.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29176880 (View on PubMed)

Khan SA, Bora T, Chattopadhyay S, Jiang J, Richards AL, Dutta P. Seroepidemiology of rickettsial infections in Northeast India. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Aug;110(8):487-94. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trw052. Epub 2016 Sep 12.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27618917 (View on PubMed)

Maude RR, Maude RJ, Ghose A, Amin MR, Islam MB, Ali M, Bari MS, Majumder MI, Tanganuchitcharnchai A, Dondorp AM, Paris DH, Bailey RL, Faiz MA, Blacksell SD, Day NPJ. Serosurveillance of Orientia tsutsugamushi and Rickettsia typhi in Bangladesh. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014 Sep;91(3):580-583. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0570. Epub 2014 Aug 4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25092819 (View on PubMed)

MACKIE TT. Observations on tsutsugamushi disease (scrub typhus) in Assam and Burma. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1946 Aug;40:15-56. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(46)90061-2. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20998610 (View on PubMed)

Ellis RD, Fukuda MM, McDaniel P, Welch K, Nisalak A, Murray CK, Gray MR, Uthaimongkol N, Buathong N, Sriwichai S, Phasuk R, Yingyuen K, Mathavarat C, Miller RS. Causes of fever in adults on the Thai-Myanmar border. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Jan;74(1):108-13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16407353 (View on PubMed)

Watthanaworawit W, Turner P, Turner C, Tanganuchitcharnchai A, Richards AL, Bourzac KM, Blacksell SD, Nosten F. A prospective evaluation of real-time PCR assays for the detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi and Rickettsia spp. for early diagnosis of rickettsial infections during the acute phase of undifferentiated febrile illness. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Aug;89(2):308-310. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0600. Epub 2013 Jun 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23732256 (View on PubMed)

McGready R, Ashley EA, Wuthiekanun V, Tan SO, Pimanpanarak M, Viladpai-Nguen SJ, Jesadapanpong W, Blacksell SD, Peacock SJ, Paris DH, Day NP, Singhasivanon P, White NJ, Nosten F. Arthropod borne disease: the leading cause of fever in pregnancy on the Thai-Burmese border. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2010 Nov 16;4(11):e888. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000888.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21103369 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

OXTREC 552-18

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

R21/Matrix-M in African Children Against Clinical Malaria
NCT04704830 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING PHASE3
Fever After Tick Bite Study
NCT03932448 WITHDRAWN