[Target chemotherapy of intestinal nematode infection in area with low endemicity].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the control measures for intestinal nematodiasis in endemic area with low prevalence and intensity of infection.


METHODS
Target chemotherapy was carried out in high-risk population based on the epidemiological characteristics such as age and clinical findings. Albendazole and mebendazole were administered each 200 mg once daily every year for 3 or 5 years. Saturated brine floatation and Kato-Katz thick smear techniques were used for stool examination to evaluate the efficacy of treatment.


RESULTS
Two hundred residents from each of the three investigation villages were selected for target chemotherapy once a year for three years. The prevalence of intestinal nematodes decreased from 6.2% in 1995 to 5.4% in 1996 and 3.2% in 1997, and remained at 2.3% after three years in 2000. One control village where only primary school students were treated once a year for 5 years, the prevalence of Ascaris and Trichuris infection also decreased from 1.4% and 4.2% in 1995 to 0.9% and 1.4% in 2000, respectively. The target chemotherapy on the predisposed population to hookworm infection showed that the prevalence in the population above 41 years old was declined from 19.4% to 10.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
The target chemotherapy is an economical and effective approach for the control of intestinal nematode infection in endemic area with low prevalence and intensity of infection.
Zhang
Tao
T
Department of Parasitology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029.
Shen
Yi-ping
YP
Liu
Ying
Y
Yang
Wei-ping
WP
Shao
Jing-ou
JO
Ju
Shao-you
SY
Dong
Kai
K
Xu
Ju-ling
JL
Jiang
Ji-min
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D008463:Mebendazole; D015766:Albendazole