| Title | Impact of long-term treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin in Ecuador: potential for elimination of infection. | | Author(s) | Vieira JC, Cooper PJ, Lovato R, Mancero T, Rivera J, Proano R, Lopez AA, Guderian RH, Rumbea Guzman J | | Source | BMC Med 2007 May 23; 5(1):9. | | Abstract | ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND: Onchocerciasis is a leading cause of blindness worldwide and elimination of the infection is an important health priority. Community-based treatment programmes with ivermectin form the basis of control programmes for the disease in Latin America. The long-term administration of ivermectin could eliminate Onchocerca volvulus infection from endemic areas in Latin America.
METHODS: A strategy of annual to twice-annual treatments with ivermectin has been used in endemic communities for onchocerciasis in Ecuador for up to 14 years. The impact of ivermectin treatment on ocular morbidity, and O. volvulus infection and transmission was monitored in seven sentinel communities.
RESULTS: Over the period 1990-2003, high rates of treatment coverage of the eligible population were maintained in endemic communities (mean 85.2% per treatment round). Ivermectin reduced the prevalence of anterior segment disease of the eye to 0% in sentinel communities and had a major impact on the prevalence and transmission of infection with possible elimination of infection in some foci.
CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of ivermectin in endemic communities in Ecuador may have eliminated ocular morbidity and significant progress has been made towards elimination of the infection. A strategy of more frequent treatments with ivermectin may be required in communities where the infection persists to achieve the objective of the elimination of the infection from Ecuador. The elimination of the infection from an endemic country in Latin America would be a major public health achievement and may stimulate the implementation of elimination strategies in other endemic countries. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 17521449 |
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