Towards eliminating lymphatic filariasis in Papua New Guinea: impact of annual single-dose mass treatment on transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti in East Sepik Province.
The impact of annual single-dose community-wide treatment on the transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti was investigated in 5 villages in the East Sepik Province where pretreatment prevalence of microfilaraemia ranged from 34% to 73%. Anopheles punctulatus and An. koliensis were the only carriers of the parasite. 3 villages received diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) in combination with ivermectin (IVR) and 2 received DEC alone. The rate and intensity of microfilaraemia were both reduced in all 5 villages. Reduction in prevalence was between 43% and 67% in the DEC+IVR study villages and between 24% and 27% in the DEC alone villages. Density was reduced by between 81% and 95% in the DEC+IVR villages and between 69% and 74% in the DEC alone villages. Breaks in perennial transmission (failure to detect infective mosquitoes in four or more consecutive monthly collections) occurred in all 3 communities treated with DEC+IVR. Transmission was almost completely interrupted in 2 villages, where infective mosquitoes were not detected during 11 of the 12 months following treatment. We concluded that repeated annual single-dose community-wide treatment with DEC+IVR could lead to complete interruption of transmission and ultimately elimination of lymphatic filariasis.
Bockarie
M J
MJ
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang Province.
Ibam
E
E
Alexander
N D
ND
Hyun
P
P
Dimber
Z
Z
Bockarie
F
F
Alpers
M P
MP
Kazura
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D005369:Filaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000187:drug effects*
D005369:Filaricides; D007559:Ivermectin; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine