Efficacy of albendazole against Giardia and hookworm in a remote Aboriginal community in the north of Western Australia.
The parasitological, clinical efficacy and tolerability of albendazole in the treatment for both giardiasis and hookworm infection in a remote Aboriginal population was investigated. Albendazole at a dose rate of 400 mg daily for 5 days was highly effective in reducing hookworm egg numbers and both Giardia antigen and cysts. The 36.6% prevalence of Giardia prior to treatment fell to 12% between days 6 and 9, 15% for days 10-17 and rose to 28% between days 18 and 30. Tolerability and clinical efficacy were excellent. The effect of albendazole on hookworm was longer lasting than that on Giardia, reducing percent infection from over 76-2% on days 6-9 and zero by day 18-30 despite conditions highly conducive to rapid re-infection. We conclude that albendazole is highly efficacious against both parasites when used as described but that long term community benefit may require additional education programmes to avoid re-infection with Giardia although treatment strategies would seem appropriate for hookworm.
Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia. reynolds@numbat.murdoch.edu.au
J A
JA
Reynoldson
J M
JM
Behnke
M
M
Gracey
R J
RJ
Horton
R
R
Spargo
R M
RM
Hopkins
C C
CC
Constantine
F
F
Gilbert
C
C
Stead
R P
RP
Hobbs
R C
RC
Thompson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015766:Albendazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000722:Ancylostoma / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000187:drug effects; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
D000871:Anthelmintics; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015766:Albendazole