The History of Trachoma and Current Prevalence (Spotlight on Iran): A Review Article
Abstract
Background: Trachoma as a common cause of infectious blindness is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. This study aimed to review the available data from variety of sources and provide an overview of the epidemiological situation of Trachoma in Iran focused on the past seventy five years.
Methods: A literature search of English and Farsi articles regarding trachoma in Iran from the electronic databases and paper documents was performed. Original articles, case reports and letters were included.
Results: By the early and mid-20th century, trachoma was widely endemic with the prevalence rate of more than 60% in Iran. Currently, trachoma prevalence is significantly lower than in the past and the elimination of trachoma is achievable in the near future. The decline in active disease is mainly attributed to improvement of socio-economic situation and personal and environmental hygiene rather than targeted interventions for epidemic control.
Conclusion: Elimination of trachoma in Iran is achievable. However, trachoma prevalence estimation is required to be interpreted with some caution. Uncertainty around these estimates is partly because of the mismatch between the presence of infection and clinical findings.
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2. Taylor HR (2009). Doyne Lecture: trachoma, is it history. Eye(Lond), 23(11):2007-22.
3. Wright HR, Turner A, Taylor HR (2008). Trachoma. Lancet, 371(9628): 1945-54.
4. Baneke A (2012). Review: Targeting tra-choma: Strategies to reduce the leading infectious cause of blindness. Travel Med Infect Dis,10(2): 92-96.
5. Hu VH, Harding-Esch EM, Burton MJ et al (2010). Epidemiology and control of trachoma: Systematic review. Trop Med Int Health, 15(6): 673–691.
6. Bird M, Dawson CR, Schachter JS et al (2003). Does the Diagnosis of Trachoma Adequately Identify Ocular Chlamydial Infection in Trachoma-Endemic Areas? J Infect Dis, 187 (10): 1669-1673.
7. Javaloy J, Ferrer C, Vidal MT, Alió JL (2003). Follicular conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in an infant Saharan population: molecular and clinical diagno-sis. Br J Ophthalmol, 87:142-146.
8. Modabber M, Arora S, Sher J (2012). Tra-choma: A Disease of Poverty. MUMJ, 9 (1): 21-25.
9. Alp A (2010). Trachoma in Turkey and Australia-a Tale of Two Countries. Turk J Ophthalmol, 40 (5): 300-303.
10. Wright HR, Turner A, Taylor HR (2007). Trachoma and poverty: unnecessary blindness further disadvantages the poorest people in the poorest countries. Clin Exp Optom, 90 (6): 422-428.
11. Taylor HR, Burton MJ, Haddad D, West S, Wright H (2014). Trachoma. Lancet, 384 (9960): 2142-2152.
12. Azizi M-H, Raees-Jalali G-A, Noroozi H (2009). A Brief History of the Publication of Biomedical Journals in Iran between 1901 and 1979. Arch Iranian Med, 12 (2): 204-211.
13. Bahadori M, Azizi M-H (2007). The First Medical Journal of Tehran University. Arch Iranian Med, 10 (3): 420-423.
14. Khodadoust AA (2006). Ophthalmology From Ancient Persia to the Modern Era. Arch Ophthalmol, 124 (10): 1481-1483.
15. Shams M, Shervin M (1943). The History of Thrachoma [in Persian]. Tehran University Medical Journal, 1 (4): 36-38.
16. Mohsenin H, Darougar S (1959). The study of trachoma and conjunctivitis in Malayer area [in Persian]. Tehran University Medical Journal, 16 (8): 666-686.
17. Mohsenin H, Darougar S (1960). Trachoma in Iran - An epidemiological study [in Persian]. Tehran University Medical Journal, 17 (8): 996-1012.
18. Mohsenin H, Moradpour K (1961). Studies about Trachoma and keratoconjunctivitis in Dezdul [in Persian]. Tehran University Medical Journal, 18 (9): 849-856.
19. Darougar S, Forsey T, Jones B et al (1979). Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from eye secretion (tears). Br J Ophthalmol, 63 (4): 256-258.
20. Khataminia G, Feghhi M, Vahedi A (2004). Evaluation of causes of visual impairment among patients referred to Sina hospital - Ahwaz. Jundishapur Sci Med J, 4 (39):13-17.
21. TvanaeiThani A (1979). Trachoma and its survey. Thesis in; Mashad Medical Uni-versity.
22. Feghhi M, Khataminia G, Ziaei H, Latifi M (2009). Prevalence and causes of blind-ness and low vision in Khuzestan prov-ince, Iran. J Ophthalmic Vis Res, 4 (1): 29-34.
23. Zarea M, Noroozzadeh M, Javadi M et al (1997). Causes of corneal graftand its outcomes in Labbafinejad Medical Center 1986-1993. Bina, 3(2):104-111
24. Dwyer RS, Treharne J, Jones B, Herring J (1972). Chlamydial infection. Results of micro-immunofluorescence tests for the detection of type-specific antibody in cer-tain chlamydial infections. Br J Vener Dis, 48 (6): 452-459.
25. Yaghoobi G, Miri MR, Yaghoobi MA (2012). Trachoma knowledge in Southern Khorassan, Iran. Afr J Microbiol Res, 6 (19): 4175-4178.
26. West SK (2004). Trachoma: new assault on an ancient disease. Prog Retin Eye Res, 23 (4): 381-401.
27. Yaqubi G, Anani G (2002). Prevalence of trachoma in chronic conjunctivitis, Bir-jand, Islamic Republic of Iran. East Medi-terr Health J, 8 (2-3): 350-3.
28. Rohani M, Ghasemzadah F (2002). Preva-lence of Chlamydia trachomatis in vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Zahedan J Res Med Sci, 3 (1): 35-38.
29. Sedaghat M, Keramodin K, Naghedi M, Mortazavifard M (1999). Survey of 100 trachoma patient by cytology, cell culture and Immunoflourescent in Ghem Hospi-tal of Mashad. 9th Iranian Congress of Ophthalmology, Tehran, Iran.
30. Zare M, Aghadoost D, Delavari A et al (2006). Rapid assessment of trachoma (RAT) in south provinces of Iran. Bina J Ophthalmol, 11(4): 432-438.
31. Thylefors B, Dawson CR, Jones BR et al (1987). A simple system for the assess-ment of trachoma and its complications. Bull World Health Organ, 65 (4): 477-483.
32. Solomon AW, Peeling RW, Foster A, Mabey DCW (2004). Diagnosis and Assessment of Trachoma. Clin Microbiol Rev, 17 (4): 982-1011.
33. Burton MJ, Rajak SN, Bauer J et al (2011). Conjunctival Transcriptome in Scarring Trachoma. Infect Immun, 79 (1): 499-511.
34. Dolin P, Faal H, Johnson G et al (1998). Trachoma in the Gambia. Br J Ophthalmol, 82 (8): 930-933.
35. Wright HR, Taylor HR (2005). Clinical exam-ination and laboratory tests for estima-tion of trachoma prevalence in a remote setting: what are they really telling us? Lancet Infect Dis, 5 (5): 313-320.
36. Wu X, Lu Y, Zhou S, Chen L, Xu B (2016). Impact of climate change on human in-fectious diseases: Empirical evidence and human adaptation. Environ Int, 86: 14-23.
37. Liang L, Gong P (2017). Climate change and human infectious diseases: A synthe-sis of research findings from global and spatio-temporal perspectives. Environ Int, 103: 99-108
38. Bernabeu-Mestre J, Galiana-Sánchez ME, Monerris AC (2013). Environment and health with respect to a poverty-related disease: the epidemiology of trachoma in Spain, 1925-1941. Hist Cienc Saude Manguinhos, 20 (4): 1605-1619.
2. Taylor HR (2009). Doyne Lecture: trachoma, is it history. Eye(Lond), 23(11):2007-22.
3. Wright HR, Turner A, Taylor HR (2008). Trachoma. Lancet, 371(9628): 1945-54.
4. Baneke A (2012). Review: Targeting tra-choma: Strategies to reduce the leading infectious cause of blindness. Travel Med Infect Dis,10(2): 92-96.
5. Hu VH, Harding-Esch EM, Burton MJ et al (2010). Epidemiology and control of trachoma: Systematic review. Trop Med Int Health, 15(6): 673–691.
6. Bird M, Dawson CR, Schachter JS et al (2003). Does the Diagnosis of Trachoma Adequately Identify Ocular Chlamydial Infection in Trachoma-Endemic Areas? J Infect Dis, 187 (10): 1669-1673.
7. Javaloy J, Ferrer C, Vidal MT, Alió JL (2003). Follicular conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in an infant Saharan population: molecular and clinical diagno-sis. Br J Ophthalmol, 87:142-146.
8. Modabber M, Arora S, Sher J (2012). Tra-choma: A Disease of Poverty. MUMJ, 9 (1): 21-25.
9. Alp A (2010). Trachoma in Turkey and Australia-a Tale of Two Countries. Turk J Ophthalmol, 40 (5): 300-303.
10. Wright HR, Turner A, Taylor HR (2007). Trachoma and poverty: unnecessary blindness further disadvantages the poorest people in the poorest countries. Clin Exp Optom, 90 (6): 422-428.
11. Taylor HR, Burton MJ, Haddad D, West S, Wright H (2014). Trachoma. Lancet, 384 (9960): 2142-2152.
12. Azizi M-H, Raees-Jalali G-A, Noroozi H (2009). A Brief History of the Publication of Biomedical Journals in Iran between 1901 and 1979. Arch Iranian Med, 12 (2): 204-211.
13. Bahadori M, Azizi M-H (2007). The First Medical Journal of Tehran University. Arch Iranian Med, 10 (3): 420-423.
14. Khodadoust AA (2006). Ophthalmology From Ancient Persia to the Modern Era. Arch Ophthalmol, 124 (10): 1481-1483.
15. Shams M, Shervin M (1943). The History of Thrachoma [in Persian]. Tehran University Medical Journal, 1 (4): 36-38.
16. Mohsenin H, Darougar S (1959). The study of trachoma and conjunctivitis in Malayer area [in Persian]. Tehran University Medical Journal, 16 (8): 666-686.
17. Mohsenin H, Darougar S (1960). Trachoma in Iran - An epidemiological study [in Persian]. Tehran University Medical Journal, 17 (8): 996-1012.
18. Mohsenin H, Moradpour K (1961). Studies about Trachoma and keratoconjunctivitis in Dezdul [in Persian]. Tehran University Medical Journal, 18 (9): 849-856.
19. Darougar S, Forsey T, Jones B et al (1979). Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from eye secretion (tears). Br J Ophthalmol, 63 (4): 256-258.
20. Khataminia G, Feghhi M, Vahedi A (2004). Evaluation of causes of visual impairment among patients referred to Sina hospital - Ahwaz. Jundishapur Sci Med J, 4 (39):13-17.
21. TvanaeiThani A (1979). Trachoma and its survey. Thesis in; Mashad Medical Uni-versity.
22. Feghhi M, Khataminia G, Ziaei H, Latifi M (2009). Prevalence and causes of blind-ness and low vision in Khuzestan prov-ince, Iran. J Ophthalmic Vis Res, 4 (1): 29-34.
23. Zarea M, Noroozzadeh M, Javadi M et al (1997). Causes of corneal graftand its outcomes in Labbafinejad Medical Center 1986-1993. Bina, 3(2):104-111
24. Dwyer RS, Treharne J, Jones B, Herring J (1972). Chlamydial infection. Results of micro-immunofluorescence tests for the detection of type-specific antibody in cer-tain chlamydial infections. Br J Vener Dis, 48 (6): 452-459.
25. Yaghoobi G, Miri MR, Yaghoobi MA (2012). Trachoma knowledge in Southern Khorassan, Iran. Afr J Microbiol Res, 6 (19): 4175-4178.
26. West SK (2004). Trachoma: new assault on an ancient disease. Prog Retin Eye Res, 23 (4): 381-401.
27. Yaqubi G, Anani G (2002). Prevalence of trachoma in chronic conjunctivitis, Bir-jand, Islamic Republic of Iran. East Medi-terr Health J, 8 (2-3): 350-3.
28. Rohani M, Ghasemzadah F (2002). Preva-lence of Chlamydia trachomatis in vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Zahedan J Res Med Sci, 3 (1): 35-38.
29. Sedaghat M, Keramodin K, Naghedi M, Mortazavifard M (1999). Survey of 100 trachoma patient by cytology, cell culture and Immunoflourescent in Ghem Hospi-tal of Mashad. 9th Iranian Congress of Ophthalmology, Tehran, Iran.
30. Zare M, Aghadoost D, Delavari A et al (2006). Rapid assessment of trachoma (RAT) in south provinces of Iran. Bina J Ophthalmol, 11(4): 432-438.
31. Thylefors B, Dawson CR, Jones BR et al (1987). A simple system for the assess-ment of trachoma and its complications. Bull World Health Organ, 65 (4): 477-483.
32. Solomon AW, Peeling RW, Foster A, Mabey DCW (2004). Diagnosis and Assessment of Trachoma. Clin Microbiol Rev, 17 (4): 982-1011.
33. Burton MJ, Rajak SN, Bauer J et al (2011). Conjunctival Transcriptome in Scarring Trachoma. Infect Immun, 79 (1): 499-511.
34. Dolin P, Faal H, Johnson G et al (1998). Trachoma in the Gambia. Br J Ophthalmol, 82 (8): 930-933.
35. Wright HR, Taylor HR (2005). Clinical exam-ination and laboratory tests for estima-tion of trachoma prevalence in a remote setting: what are they really telling us? Lancet Infect Dis, 5 (5): 313-320.
36. Wu X, Lu Y, Zhou S, Chen L, Xu B (2016). Impact of climate change on human in-fectious diseases: Empirical evidence and human adaptation. Environ Int, 86: 14-23.
37. Liang L, Gong P (2017). Climate change and human infectious diseases: A synthe-sis of research findings from global and spatio-temporal perspectives. Environ Int, 103: 99-108
38. Bernabeu-Mestre J, Galiana-Sánchez ME, Monerris AC (2013). Environment and health with respect to a poverty-related disease: the epidemiology of trachoma in Spain, 1925-1941. Hist Cienc Saude Manguinhos, 20 (4): 1605-1619.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 47 No 10 (2018) | |
| Section | Review Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Trachoma, Chlamydia trachomatis, Prevalence, Iran | ||
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How to Cite
1.
YAGHOOBI G, ANANI SARAB G. The History of Trachoma and Current Prevalence (Spotlight on Iran): A Review Article. Iran J Public Health. 2018;47(10):1458-1465.
