title: Immunocompetence may be important in the effectiveness of Mectizan (ivermectin) in the treatment of human onchocerciasis.
abstract: Mectizan (Ivermectin) has been proved to be central to the control of onchoceriasis through self-sustainable community-based treatment. The possibility of parasitological unresponsiveness to this treatment or selection for drug resistance has emerged recently in many occasions. The reason for the reduced ability of Mectizan to maintain low levels of dermal microfilariae and early recurrent pruritus can only be speculated upon. Here, we report our own findings to address this particular issue.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Research Institute, National Center for Research, Khartoum, Sudan. alimagdi@msu.edu
authors.forename: Magdi M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Moawia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mukhtar
authors.forename: Omer Z
authors.initials: OZ
authors.lastname: Baraka
authors.forename: Mamoun M A
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Homeida
authors.forename: Musa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kheir
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005369:Filaricides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000276:immunology; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D013397:Sudan / Q000208:ethnology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D005369:Filaricides; D007559:Ivermectin