Update to: Assessing the efficacy of male Wolbachia-infected mosquito deployments to reduce dengue incidence in Singapore

• Published in: Trials
• Main Authors: Jue Tao Lim, Diyar Mailepessov, Chee-Seng Chong, Chia-Chen Chang, Borame Dickens, Yee Ling Lai, Lu Deng, Caleb Lee, Li Yun Tan, Grace Chain, Soon Hoe Ho, Muhammad Faizal Zulkifli, Jonathan Liew, Kathryn Vasquez, Vernon Lee, Judith Chui Ching Wong, Shuzhen Sim, Cheong Huat Tan, Lee Ching Ng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2024-06-01
• Subjects: Dengue; Wolbachia; Cluster-randomised controlled trial
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-024-08148-z

Abstract Background This trial is a parallel, two-arm, non-blinded cluster randomised controlled trial that is under way in Singapore, with the aim of measuring the efficacy of male Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti deployments in reducing dengue incidence in an endemic setting with all four dengue serotypes in circulation. The trial commenced in July 2022 and is expected to conclude in September 2024. The original study protocol was published in December 2022. Here, we describe amendments that have been made to the study protocol since commencement of the trial. Methods The key protocol amendments are (1) addition of an explicit definition of Wolbachia exposure for residents residing in intervention sites based on the duration of Wolbachia exposure at point of testing, (2) incorporation of a high-dimensional set of anthropogenic and environmental characteristics in the analysis plan to adjust for baseline risk factors of dengue transmission, and (3) addition of alternative statistical analyses for endpoints to control for post hoc imbalance in cluster-based environmental and anthropogenic characteristics. Discussion The findings from this study will provide the first experimental evidence for the efficacy of releasing male-Wolbachia infected mosquitoes to reduce dengue incidence in a cluster-randomised controlled trial. The trial will conclude in 2024 and results will be reported shortly thereafter. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05505682. Registered on 16 August 2022. Retrospectively registered. Last updated 11 November 2023.