Impact of short-term discontinuation of ivermectin-based chemoprevention on onchocerciasis transmission in endemic settings with long history of mass drug administration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The control of onchocerciasis currently relies on annual distribution of single dose ivermectin. Because ivermectin has minimal effects on the adult parasite, mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns against onchocerciasis require at least 15 years of annual uninterrupted ivermectin distribution. Mathematical models have predicted that short-term disruption of MDA (as was seen during COVID-19) could impacted the microfilaridermia prevalence depending on the pre-control endemicity and the histories of treatment, requiring corrective measures (such as biannual MDA) to mitigate the effect on onchocerciasis elimination. Field evidence supporting this prediction, however, has yet to be gathered. This study aimed to assess the impact of ~2 years disruption of MDA on onchocerci

SUBMITTER: Efon-Ekangouo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10132555 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature