Objective BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected life-threatening vector-borne disease. More than 90% of the reported VL cases occur in the Indian subcontinent, where it is considered a problem of public health importance. Though a regional eliminat ion plan was launched in 2001, current approaches fail to control a VL epidemic in Bihar (India). Case-detection and treatment is the main strategy, with insecticide-spraying being applied to a variable extent. The efficacy of insecticide-treated bednets has been demonstrated so far in the prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis, but not yet for VL.METHODS The efficacy of long-lasting impregnated bednets (LLIN) on VL prevention will be assessed in a community intervention trial in the Bihar focus, that e xtends on both sides of the Indian-Nepalese border. The study aims to demonstrate a 50% reduction in L.donovani incidence rates in the intervention group compared to control. Twenty clusters of households will be randomly allocated to the intervention or to the control arm. Complementary to the trial, technology assessment (TA) and socio-economic studies (SES) will be conducted. TA will evaluate the efficacy of competing technologies on a scale of proof-of-principle , as several formats of treated fabri cs are currently being proposed by industry. SES will evaluate the acceptability and cost-effectiveness of LLIN compared to alternative community-based vector-control methods by an appropriate mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. DISCUSSION The proposed study targets the poorest segments of society, aiming at poverty reduction in line with EU development aid policy. Research institutes from north and south will carry out the project in collaborative partnership , with specific targets for trai ning and capacity strengthening. The partnership will involve the local health policymakers and the community, as the goal is to integrate research results into disease control policy. Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic health Programme(s) FP6-INCO - Specific measures in support of international cooperation: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) INCO-2003-A1.3 b - Knowledge and technologies to improve control of neglected communicable diseases Call for proposal FP6-2003-INCO-DEV-2 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme IP - Integrated Project Coordinator PRINS LEOPOLD INSTITUUT VOOR TROPISCHE GENEESKUNDE Address Nationalestraat 155 Antwerp Belgium See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences Nepal EU contribution € 0,00 Address Ghopa Dharan See on map Links Website Opens in new window Banaras Hindu University India EU contribution € 0,00 Address Bhu Varanasi See on map Links Website Opens in new window International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh Bangladesh EU contribution € 0,00 Address 68 shaheed tajuddin ahmed sharani, mohakhali Dhaka See on map London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Keppel street London See on map Links Website Opens in new window Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences India EU contribution € 0,00 Address Agamkuan Patna,bihar See on map Links Website Opens in new window Université de Genève Switzerland EU contribution € 0,00 Address Rue du général-dufour 24 Geneva See on map Links Website Opens in new window
