INTRODUCTION In the peri-elimination setting, the positive predictive value of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF), the primary marker used to determine need for antibiotics for trachoma, is suboptimal. Here, three non-TF measures are used to compare two regions where TF prevalence exceeds the threshold for intervention, but where the Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) prevalence is different. METHODS Population prevalence of trachoma was measured in Vanuatu (n = 3470) and Kiribati (n = 2922). Dried blood spots (DBS) and conjunctival photographs were collected from every survey participant, and conjunctival swabs were collected from those aged 1-9 years. Individuals were tested for blood anti-Pgp3 antibodies, Ct DNA at the conjunctiva and severity of conjunctival scarring. RESULTS The prevalence of TF in 1-9-year-olds was 16.5% in Vanuatu and 38.2% in Tarawa. 7% of people aged ≥1 year in Vanuatu had conjunctival scarring compared to 27% in Tarawa. The prevalence of ocular Ct infection in 1-9-year-olds was 1.5% in Vanuatu and 27.4% in Tarawa. The seroconversion rate amongst 1-9-year-old children in Vanuatu and Tarawa was 0.018 and 0.197 events per child per year, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Comparing Vanuatu to Tarawa demonstrates several markers that could be used to differentiate the trachoma status of populations in these (and other) locations.

中文翻译：

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在基里巴斯的瓦努阿图和塔拉瓦，眼沙眼衣原体感染，抗Pgp3抗体和结膜瘢痕形成，然后进行抗生素治疗。

引言在围手术期消除环境中，用于确定沙眼是否需要抗生素的主要标志物-沙眼发炎性滤泡（TF）的阳性预测值不理想。在这里，使用三种非TF措施来比较TF患病率超过干预阈值但沙眼衣原体（Ct）患病率不同的两个区域。方法在瓦努阿图（n = 3470）和基里巴斯（n = 2922）中测量沙眼的人群患病率。从每个调查参与者那里收集干血斑（DBS）和结膜照片，并从1-9岁年龄的人收集结膜拭子。测试个体的血液抗Pgp3抗体，结膜处的Ct DNA和结膜瘢痕形成的严重程度。结果在瓦努阿图和38岁的1-9岁儿童中，TF的患病率为16.5％。塔拉瓦2％。瓦努阿图≥1岁的人中有7％患有结膜瘢痕，而塔拉瓦州则为27％。瓦努阿图的1-9岁儿童眼Ct感染的患病率为1.5％，塔拉瓦的为27.4％。瓦努阿图和塔拉瓦的1-9岁儿童的血清转化率分别为每名儿童每年0.018和0.197个事件。结论将瓦努阿图与塔拉瓦河进行比较，可以证明几种标记物可用于区分这些（和其他）位置的人群的沙眼状态。