A. Kebede et al., EFFECT OF IVERMECTIN TREATMENT ON MICROFILARIAL LOAD IN PATIENTS WITHONCHOCERCA-VOLVULUS IN BEBEKA, ETHIOPIA, Ethiopian medical journal, 31(2), 1993, pp. 127-135
In April 1990, one hundred ninety people from Bebeka Coffee Plantation
, Kefa administrative region, western Ethiopia, all with moderate to h
eavy infection with Onchocerca volvulus were treated with ivermectin (
150 mcg/kg body wt.). Clinical examination and microfilarial counts in
skin snips were repeated at intervals for eight months. Therapy was a
ssociated with minimal side effects. Significant difference in mean mi
crofilarial load was observed throughout the eight months post-treatme
nt period. Difference in repopulation of microfilariae between four an
d eight months was not significant in either sex and all ages. Of all
cases, 71 (37.5%) maintained zero microfilarial counts after four mont
hs, while only 38 (20%) remained at zero level until the end of eight
months. The merit of a yearly treatment programme is discussed.