Table 1.
Global data of countries affected by NTDs, drugs donated, burden of each disease, and number of patent families
| Neglected Tropical Diseases (PCT/IDM) | Number of countries | Disease burden | Interventions | Effectiveness of current interventions | Granted patent families/all patent families | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incidence | Prevalence | DALYs | Prevention | Treatment | Drug Resistance | Drug Donated | Prevention | Treatment | |||
| Buruli ulcer (IDM) | 33 | No data | No data | No data | There are currently no primary preventive measures that can be applied. The mode of transmission is not known and there is no vaccine. | Rifampicin and streptomycin | Yes [29] | No | N/A | High | 103/322 |
| Rifampicin and clarithromycin | Yes [29] | No | High | ||||||||
| Chagas disease (IDM) | 21 | 8404 | 6,653,578 | 236,100 | Vector control is the most effective method of prevention. Blood screening is necessary to prevent infection through transfusion and organ transplantation. | Benznidazole and Nifurtimox | Yes [30] | No | Low | High | 449/1658 |
| Dengue | >100 | 86,257,710 | 4,729,962 | 1,892,200 | The main method of prevention is to combat vector mosquitoes. The first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia (CYD-TDV) by Sanofi Pasteur, was registered in several countries. | No specific drug to treat | No | No | Low | N/A | 829/2879 |
| Dracunculiasis (PCT) | 3 | No data | No data | No data | There is no vaccine to prevent. Prevention is possible through complex preventive strategies. | No specific drug to treat | No | No | High | N/A | 15/63 |
| Echinococcosis | Very few countries are completely free of these parasites | 313,264 | 1,382,975 | 600,000 | Prevention programs focus on deworming of dogs and sheep. In the case of cystic echinococcosis, control measures also include improved food inspection, slaughterhouse hygiene, and public education campaigns. | Percutaneous treatment of the hydatid cysts with PAIR (Puncture, Aspiration, Injection, Re-aspiration) technique | Yes [31] | No | High | Low | 96/535 |
| Food-borne trematodiases | 75 | No data | 71,095,424 | 168,500 | Veterinary public health measures and food safety practices and education are recommended to reduce the risk of infection. Triclabendazole/Praziquantel through MDA programs. | Triclabendazole/Praziquantel | Yes [32] | Yes | High | High | 59/269 |
PCT Preventive chemotherapy and transmission control
IDM innovative and intensified disease management
MDA mass drug administration
N/A not applicable
SAFE surgery for advanced disease, antibiotics to clear Chlamydia trachomatis infection, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement to reduce transmission
Sources: 1) The disease burden disability adjusted life years (DALYS) (the sum of years lost due to premature death (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs)), Incidence (the total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time), and Prevalence (the number of new cases of a given disease during a given period in a specified population), values -2015 were obtained from Global Health Data Exchange [43] and [14], 2) The number of countries and drugs used (Preventive Chemotherapy and Transmission Control; and Innovative and Intensified Disease Management) were obtained from WHO fact sheets [44], 3) Data on number of patent families was retrieved from Patseer database, 4) Efficacy/effectiveness/efficiency notes were obtained from the Third WHO Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases [45]