Global lymphatic filariasis post-validation surveillance activities in 2024: A systematic review protocol

IntroductionLymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease caused by infection with parasitic worms, spread by mosquitoes. In countries where LF is validated as eliminated as a public health problem by the World Health Organization (WHO), post-validation surveillance (PVS) is required to ensure recrudescence has not occurred and verify the sustained elimination of transmission. However, it is unclear what PVS strategies should be applied, how PVS strategies should be tailored to meet country capacity and need, and whether currently used approaches align with upcoming WHO guidelines. ObjectivesThis study will aim to review available evidence on PVS implementation in countries previously endemic for LF; examine barriers and facilitators to PVS implementation; critique alignment in PVS activities with international guidelines; and identify knowledge gaps in PVS implementation that may be addressed through further research. MethodsWe will search four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science) for peer-reviewed literature and the WHO Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (IRIS) database for grey literature. Documents published between January 1, 2007 and November 5, 2024 will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen studies based on a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of included studies will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist, and deductive content analysis will be conducted to synthesise data. The study will also examine alignment with upcoming WHO PVS guidelines. ConclusionThis review will systematically collate and analyse available literature on PVS of LF, which, to our knowledge, has not yet been conducted. Our study will synthesise knowledge in this field and provide an evidence base which may be used to guide the design of future PVS strategies. This protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (registration ID: CRD42024618436).