title: Community-wide reduction in prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminths as a collateral benefit of lymphatic filariasis elimination programs.
abstract: Annual mass treatment with antifilarial drugs is the cornerstone of the global program to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). Although the primary goal of the program is to interrupt transmission of LF, additional public health benefits also are expected because of the known anthelminthic properties of these drugs. Since rapid re-infection with intestinal helminths occurs following treatment, annual de-worming may not be sufficient to produce a lasting reduction in the prevalence and intensity of these infections. We conducted stool examinations in four sentinel communities before and approximately nine months after each of two rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole in the context of an LF elimination program in Leogane, Haiti. At baseline, overall Ascaris, Trichuris, and hookworm infection prevalences were 20.9%, 34.0%, and 11.2%, respectively (n = 2,716 stools). Nine months after the second MDA, Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm prevalences had decreased significantly, to 14.1%, 14.6%, and 2.0%, respectively (n = 814 stools). Infection intensity decreased significantly for all three parasites as well. These results demonstrate that substantial reductions in intestinal helminth infections are associated with mass treatment of filariasis in Haiti and are consistent with the conclusion that high levels of coverage for the LF program can decrease transmission of geohelminths.
authors.affiliation: Hopital Ste. Croix, Leogane, Haiti. mbeauder@nd.edu
authors.forename: Madsen Beau
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: De Rochars
authors.forename: Abdel N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Direny
authors.forename: Jacquelin M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Addiss
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radday
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Streit
authors.forename: Desire
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dardith
authors.forename: Jack Guy
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lafontant
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lammie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009348:Nematoda / Q000187:drug effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine