EFFECT OF IVERMECTIN (MECTIZAN(R)) ON INTESTINAL NEMATODES

Ancillary to a community based mass treatment campaign of onchocercias is with ivermectin, assessment of the drug's effect on various intesti nal nematodes was made in Bebeka, Southwest Ethiopia between 23 April and 23 July, 1990. A total of 231 people were invited for the study an d all consented. From each, stool specimen was collected before treatm ent, two weeks and three months after administration of ivermectin at a dose of 150 mcg/kg body weight. Various intestinal parasites were ob served in many of the samples, ranging from single parasite up to five mixed infections per slide. Efficacy of ivermectin against Strongyloi des stercoralis was 100% throughout the observation period. Eggs of As caris lumbricoides were found in 74.5 % of the stool samples collected before treatment and this was reduced to 3.5 % and 48.9 % in the post -treatment samples of 15 days and three months, respectively. Similar observation was made for the other geohelminths at a lower cure rate. This finding shows that apart from its primary purpose in the control of onchocerciasis, ivermectin has the added benefit of eliminating asc aris and strongyloides infection in areas where such parasites are co- endemic. Furthermore, its significant effect on the intensity of the o ther enteric nematodes will have a great impact on reducing transmissi on. The public health significance of population based mass chemothera py with ivermectin is discussed.