Impact of Semi-Annual Albendazole on Lymphatic Filariasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection: Parasitological Assessment after 14 Rounds of Community Treatment

Sébastien D. S. Pion,François Missamou,Cédric B. Chesnais,Michel Boussinesq,Gary J. Weil,Frédéric Louya

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0731

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Between October 2012 and October 2015, we conducted a community trial to assess the impact of semi-annual (twice yearly) community treatment with albendazole on lymphatic filariasis in Seke Pembe, a village in the Republic of the Congo. Semi-annual community treatment with albendazole has been continued in the community since October 2015. We conducted an additional parasitological assessment survey in October 2019, 6 months after the 14th round of semi-annual treatment. Between October 2012 and October 2015, Wuchereria bancrofti antigenemia and microfilaremia rates in the community had decreased from 17.3% to 4.7% and from 5.3% to 0.3%, respectively. In October 2019, the antigenemia rate had decreased further to 2.8% (19 of 687). No microfilariae were found in night blood smears from persons with circulating filarial antigenemia (0 of 16), suggesting that W. bancrofti transmission has been interrupted in Seke Pembe. Semi-annual albendazole treatments also reduced significantly infection rates with soil-transmitted helminths.

Highlights

Loiasis, the filarial infection caused by the worm Loa loa is endemic in central Africa
Between October 2012 and October 2015, Wuchereria bancrofti antigenemia and microfilaremia rates in the community had decreased from 17.3% to 4.7% and from 5.3% to 0.3%, respectively
No microfilariae were found in night blood smears from persons with circulating filarial antigenemia (0 of 16), suggesting that W. bancrofti transmission has been interrupted in Seke Pembe

Summary

Introduction

The filarial infection caused by the worm Loa loa is endemic in central Africa. Between October 2012 and October 2015, we conducted a community trial to assess the impact of semi-annual (twice yearly) community treatment with albendazole on lymphatic filariasis in Seke Pembe, a village in the Republic of the Congo. We conducted an additional parasitological assessment survey in October 2019, 6 months after the 14th round of semi-annual treatment.

Results

Conclusion