CONTROL OF BANCROFTIAN FILARIASIS IN AN ENDEMIC AREA OF POLYNESIA BY IVERMECTIN 400 MU-G KG/

Community treatment with ivermectin was implemented in Opoa, French Po lynesia from April 1991 to October 1993. All consenting inhabitants ag ed 3 years or more were treated with twice-yearly single doses of iver mectin, pregnant women excepted. A dosage of 100 mu g/kg was used for the 3 first treatments and then abandoned because it did not reduce th e prevalence of microfilariae (mf) carriers. With a dosage of 400 mu g /kg dosage, this prevalence decreased dramatically from 21% to 7%, and the mf level in carriers dropped to only 0.5% of its initial value af ter 3 treatments. The 400 mu g/kg dosage was well tolerated and compli ance was excellent. The twice-yearly single dose strategy with ivermec tin at 400 mu g/kg is safe and highly effective for filariasis control in an endemic area.