Onchocerca Volvulus: Effects of Annual Treatment with Ivermectin on Prevalence and of infection

Abstract

Vector control is practical and effective in only a circumscribed region of West Africa. As an alternative to vector control, chemotherapy – based control has been revolutionized by the finding that ivermectin, a novel semi synthetic macrocyclic lactone, is safe and acceptable for mass distribution at the community level. In this study, the effect of ivermectin treatment was evaluated by comparing the pre- and post-treatment intervention prevalence and intensity, over a 3 year period. The pre-intervention prevalence and intensity were 53.5% and 3 mf/mg skin snip respectively. There was significant decrease (p