Dr Armelle Forrer

Post-doctoral research associate

Armelle joined the Tropical Disease Biology Department at LSTM in January 2019. She is a data-analysis oriented epidemiologist. She currently works on a Countdown consortium project aiming at assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of an alternative strategy for the control and elimination of onchocerciasis in Cameroon.

Background
Armelle studied Biology (MSc) at the University of Geneva (Switzerland) and Epidemiology (MSc, PhD) at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel, Switzerland. In her studies, she pursued research on the control of helminthic diseases, mainly soil-transmitted helminths (PhD) and the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini (MSc).

Research
Her PhD aimed at contributing to the knowledge-base to guide Strongyloides stercoralis control efforts in Cambodia, where this highly neglected soil-transmitted helminth (STH) is highly prevalent. The main objectives were to document post-treatment reinfection risk and morbidity associated with infection, and to estimate the national prevalence of the parasite and assess its geographical distribution across the country.

An additional goal was to assess the determinants and geographical distribution (spatial statistics, mapping) of hookworm in southern Lao PDR and Northern Cambodia, either alone or as a co-infection with S. stercoralis.

Control of the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini: assess determinants of O. viverrini infection, predict and map its distribution in Southern Lao PDR.

Selected publications

  • Forrer A, Khieu V, Vounatsou P, Sithithaworn P, Ruantip S., Huy R., Muth S, Odermatt P.“Strongyloides stercoralis: mapping of a highly prevalent and ubiquitous helminth in Cambodia”. In press, PLoSNegl Trop Dis.

    Forrer A, Khieu V, Schär F, Hattendorf J, Marti H, Chuor MC, Muth S, Odermatt P. Strongyloides stercoralis is associated with significant morbidity in rural Cambodia, including stunting in children. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Oct 23; 11(10): e0005685.

    Forrer A, Khieu V, Schindler C, Schär F, Marti H, Chuor MC, Muth S, Odermatt P (2016). Ivermectin treatment and sanitation effectively reduce Strongyloides stercoralis infection risk in rural communities in Cambodia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016; 10(8): e0004909.

    Forrer A, Vounatsou P, Sayasone S, Vonghachack Y, Bouakhasith D, Utzinger J, Akkhavong K, Odermatt P (2015). Risk Profiling of Hookworm Infection and Intensity in Southern Laos Using Bayesian Models. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 9(3): e3486