Development of a new platform for neglected tropical disease surveillance

An expanded global focus on the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has called attention to the need to develop and validate surveillance strategies that are cost effective and can be integrated across diseases. Here, we describe a multiplex tool for the sensitive detection of antibody responses to NTDs as well as vaccine preventable diseases, malaria, and waterborne and zoonotic infections. The assay platform is robust, can be performed with either serum or dried blood spots and can be adapted to local epidemiological conditions and public health priorities. Multiplex assays open the door to conducting routine serosurveillance for NTDs through demographic health surveillance or malaria indicator surveys.

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► We describe a multiplex tool for the sensitive detection of antibody responses to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
► This tool can be adapted to detect of antibody responses to vaccines, malaria and waterborne and zoonotic infections.
► The assay is robust, can be performed with serum or dried blood spots and adapted to local epidemiological conditions.
► Multiplex assays open the door to conducting routine serosurveillance for NTDs through population-based surveys.