title: Comparison of Kato-Katz thick-smear and McMaster egg counting method for the assessment of drug efficacy against soil-transmitted helminthiasis in school children in Jimma Town, Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a paucity of studies that compare efficacy of drugs obtained by different diagnostic methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the efficacy of a single oral dose albendazole (400 mg), measured as egg reduction rate, against soil-transmitted helminth infections in 210 school children (Jimma Town, Ethiopia) using both Kato-Katz thick smear and McMaster egg counting method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicate that differences in sensitivity and faecal egg counts did not imply a significant difference in egg reduction rate estimates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The choice of a diagnostic method to assess drug efficacy should not be based on sensitivity and faecal egg counts only.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Public Health and Medical Science, Mettu University, Mettu, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Teshome
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bekana
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Zeleke
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mekonnen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeynudin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Mio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayana
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Mestawet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Getachew
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vercruysse
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Ghent University, Belgium Bruno.Levecke@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Levecke
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D012987:Soil; D015766:Albendazole
keywords: Anthelminthic drug efficacy; Egg reduction rate; Ethiopia; Kato-Katz thick smear; McMaster egg counting method; Soil-transmitted helminths