Efficacy of different chemotherapeutic schemes for hookworm-infected villagers in China.

A comparative analysis has been made of the efficacy of different chemotherapeutic schemes against hookworm infections in China. Hookworm eggs were detected by the improved Kato's thick smear method. Benzimidazole was offered to residents in the tested villages, while NaHCO3 was used as placebo in control villages. Data were analysed by negative binomial distribution with statistic software R2.2.1. In the tested village as a result of the application of selective chemotherapy, hookworm infection rate decreased from 58.79% to 1.08%, while the average of eggs per gram (EPG) reduced from 526.29 to 56.91. The infection rates in the target chemotherapy village and in the mass chemotherapy village declined from 6.90% to 1.92% and 10.10% to 0.65% respectively. It was concluded that the consecutive selective chemotherapy could rapidly decrease the infection rate and EPG of hookworm and maintain the infection rate at low level. The curative effect of the target chemotherapy was similar to that of the mass chemotherapy in the low hookworm endemic area.

[Effect of combined chemotherapy against human intestinal nematode eggs].

The effect of a combination of albendazole and mebendazole was evaluated by stool examination in 7 patients with Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, 7 patients with Trichuris trichiura eggs and 9 patients with hookworm eggs. Albendazole and mebendazole were given at 300 mg and 375 mg, respectively. Both drugs were divided into 3 parts, one part b. id., and given in 1.5 days. The fecal eggs turned negative in all the patients with Ascaris infection in 3 days, while the fecal eggs were negative in all patients with Trichuris or hookworm infection in 5 days. The development rates of the eggs were remarkably lower post-treatment than pre-treatment. It was found that the ovicidal rates in human ascariasis, trichuriasis and ancylostomiasis were 98.8%, 100% and 100%, respectively on the second day following the initiation of treatment. The results showed that the worm-repelling and ovicidal effect of the combined chemotherapy was more evident.

[Studies on the changes in infection rates of whipworm and ascaris in population after continuous chemotherapy].

The inhabitants with positive eggs of whipworm and ascaris in a village of Jiangdou County were examined and treated with different antihelmintic drugs twice a year. The uncured population were treated by drug administration once again. On an average the efficiency of drug treatment (cure rate x treatment rate) was 56.7% in whipworm and 64.5% in ascaris. The program had been carried out for five years. The positive rate of eggs of whipworm and ascaris in the population decreased from 64.7% and 52.1% to 2.7% and 4.1%, respectively, the mean increase in infection rates among population at 5 or 7 months after treatment was 2.68 (0.86-5.74)% and 6.94(1.72-17.27)%, respectively.