PARASITOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF REPEATED IVERM ECTIN TREATMENTS IN AN ONCHOCERCIASIS FOCUS IN NORTH-CAMEROON

321 adults living in an hyperendemic onchocerciasis focus in North-Cam eroon who received a first dose of ivermectin (150 mug/kg) in 1987 and a total of three, four or five doses from 1987 to 1991 were parasitol ogically examined in 1992. The prevalence of skin microfilariae (PMf) and the geometric mean microfilarial load (GMMf) were respectively red uced by 33 and 97 % from the initial values in the group of subjects w ho received five treatments. In 1992, the PMf and the GMMf were not si gnificantly different in the groups which received three, four or five doses of ivermectin. It is not necessary to achieve an important drug coverage to maintain a tolerable level of infestation in the communit y.