title: Decline in lymphatic filariasis transmission with annual mass drug administration using DEC with and without albendazole over a 10year period in India.
abstract: The National Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis is underway in the endemic districts of Tamil Nadu State, South India, since 2001. Annual mass drug administration (MDA) was carried out by the state health department to all eligible individuals. The impact of MDAs on transmission parameters was evaluated in 2 revenue blocks, viz, one with DEC alone and the other with a combination of albendazole. After 10 years with 6 annual MDAs, the transmission indices reached low levels in both treatment arms, but still persisted. However, the DEC alone arm showed higher transmission rates, compared to the DEC+ALB arm. Few villages which demonstrated persistent transmission need to be targeted with an additional control measure viz, vector control, to achieve LF elimination. It is evident from the 10 year period of the study that inclusion of albendazole along with DEC has significantly reduced the transmission indices to almost nil level, as compared to DEC alone.
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), Field Unit, Perka Village, Car Nicobar, Andaman & Nicobar Islands744 301, India. Electronic address: sunish67@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Sunish
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No.4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625 002, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalimuthu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No.4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625 002, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajendran
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No.4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625 002, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munirathinam
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No.4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625 002, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ashok Kumar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No.4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625 002, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nagaraj
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No.4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625 002, India. Electronic address: crmeicmr@icmr.org.in.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tyagi
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000469:parasitology; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060740:Disease Eradication; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D005369:Filaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides; D015766:Albendazole; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine
keywords: Lymphatic filariasis; South India; Tirukoilur; Transmission indices