Ivermectin treatment response in two rural villages with a high prevalence of onchocerciasis and epilepsy, Mahenge Tanzania
African Health Sciences
; 22(3): 607-616, 2022-10-26. Figures, Tables
Article
in En
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1401819
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Background:
Despite 20 years of ivermectin mass distribution in the Mahenge area, Tanzania, the prevalence of onchocerciasis and epilepsy has remained high in rural villages.Objectives:
We investigated the efficacy of ivermectin in reducing Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae and predictors for parasitic load following ivermectin treatment in persons with (PWE) and without epilepsy (PWOE).Methods:
Between April and September 2019, 50 PWE and 160 randomly selected PWOE from Msogezi and Mdindo villages participated in a follow-up study. Skin snips were obtained pre (baseline) and three months post-ivermectin treatment.Results:
The overall prevalence of O. volvulus positive skin snips at baseline was 49% (103/210), with no significant difference between PWE (58.0%) and PWOE (46.3%); p=0.197. The overall mean micro filarial density was significantly higher at baseline 1.45(95%CI0.98-2.04)) than three-month post-ivermectin treatment (0.23(95%CI0.11-0.37), p<0.001. Three months after ivermectin, the micro filarial density had decreased by ≥80% in 54 (81.8%, 95%CI 72.3-91.4) of the 66 individuals with positive skin snips at baseline. High micro filarial density at baseline was the only significant predictor associated with higher micro filarial density in the post-ivermectin skin snips.Conclusion:
Our study reports a decrease in micro filarial density following ivermectin treatment in most individuals. Optimizing ivermectin coverage will address the ongoing onchocerciasis transmission in MahengeKey words
Full text:
1
Database:
AIM
Main subject:
Onchocerciasis
/
Therapeutics
/
Ivermectin
/
Epilepsy
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
En
Journal:
African Health Sciences
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article