title: Mass diethylcarbamazine chemotherapy for control of bancroftian filariasis: comparative efficacy of standard treatment and two semi-annual single-dose treatments.
abstract: The efficacy of 2 strategies for control of bancroftian filariasis using mass diethylcarbamazine (DEC) chemotherapy was evaluated and compared in 2 endemic communities in Tanzania with pre-treatment microfilarial (mf) prevalences of 28.5% and 17.7%, and mf geometric mean intensities (GMI) of 588 mf/mL and 251 mf/mL, respectively. All individuals in the first community were offered DEC treatment with 6 mg/kg body weight given daily for 12 d (standard treatment). The second community was offered DEC treatment with 2 single doses of 6 mg/kg body weight given with an interval of 6 months (semi-annual single-dose treatment). Among those who were microfilaraemic before treatment, the mf clearance rates were 51.2% and 36.0%, and the mf GMIs were reduced by 98.6% and 92.2% one year after the start of the standard and the semi-annual regimens, respectively. At community level, the standard strategy and the semi-annual strategy reduced the mf prevalences to 15.1% and 11.6% (reductions of 47.0% and 34.5%) and the mf GMIs to 112 mf/mL and 102 mf/mL (reductions of 81.0% and 59.4%, respectively) one year after start of treatment. Both regimens resulted in remarkable improvements in small hydroceles among males presenting this condition before treatment. The lower efficacy of the semi-annual single-dose treatment in relation to the standard treatment in reducing microfilaraemias might be compensated for by continuing semi-annual treatments for a slightly longer period of time. Considering that the semi-annual treatment is easy to administer and more acceptable to the treated individuals, it may in the long run be a more feasible strategy for mass DEC chemotherapy than the standard treatment.
authors.affiliation: Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, Charlottenlund, Denmark.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Meyrowitsch
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Makunde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005369:Filaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine