title: [Target chemotherapy of intestinal nematode infection in area with low endemicity].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei-ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jing-ou
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Shao-you
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Ju-ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ji-min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D008463:Mebendazole; D015766:Albendazole