title: Rapid suppression of Onchocerca volvulus transmission in two communities of the Southern Chiapas focus, Mexico, achieved by quarterly treatments with Mectizan.
abstract: The impact of quarterly Mectizan (ivermectin) treatments on transmission, microfiladermia, and ocular lesions was evaluated in two formerly hyperendemic communities (Las Golondrinas and Las Nubes II) located in the main endemic focus for onchocerciasis in Southern Chiapas, Mexico. The data suggest that Onchocerca volvulus transmission has been suppressed after elimination of microfiladermia in these two communities. Increasing the frequency of Mectizan treatment to four times per year appears to have resulted in the rapid suppression of transmission in communities with residual transmission.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Blvd. del Maestro esq. Elias Piña, Cd. Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. mrodriguez@ipn.mx
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Pérez
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lutzow-Steiner
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Segura-Cabrera
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lizarazo-Ortega
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Vázquez
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sauerbrey
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Unnasch
authors.forename: Hassan K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Raymundo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández-Hernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005369:Filaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000187:drug effects*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides; D007559:Ivermectin