title: Mathematical models and lymphatic filariasis control: monitoring and evaluating interventions.
abstract: Monitoring and evaluation are crucially important to the scientific management of any mass parasite control programme. Monitoring enables the effectiveness of implemented actions to be assessed and necessary adaptations to be identified; it also determines when management objectives are achieved. Parasite transmission models can provide a scientific template for informing the optimal design of such monitoring programmes. Here, we illustrate the usefulness of using a model-based approach for monitoring and evaluating anti-parasite interventions and discuss issues that need addressing. We focus on the use of such an approach for the control and/or elimination of the vector-borne parasitic disease, lymphatic filariasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK. e.michael@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Mwele N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Malecela-Lazaro
authors.forename: Bertha T A
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Maegga
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kazura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005369:Filaricides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides