Collateral Impact of Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) for Onchocerciasis on Parasitological Indicators of <em>Loa loa</em> Infection
Hugues C. Nana-Djeunga,
Cédric G. Lenou-Nanga,
Cyrille Donfo-Azafack,
Linda Djune-Yemeli,
Floribert Fossuo-Thotchum,
André Domche,
Arsel V. Litchou-Tchuinang,
Jean Bopda,
Stève Mbickmen-Tchana,
Thérèse Nkoa,
Véronique Penlap,
Francine Ntoumi,
Joseph Kamgno
Affiliations
Hugues C. Nana-Djeunga
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Cédric G. Lenou-Nanga
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Cyrille Donfo-Azafack
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Linda Djune-Yemeli
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Floribert Fossuo-Thotchum
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
André Domche
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Arsel V. Litchou-Tchuinang
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Jean Bopda
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Stève Mbickmen-Tchana
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Thérèse Nkoa
Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Véronique Penlap
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Francine Ntoumi
Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale (FCRM), Brazzaville CG-BZV, Congo
Joseph Kamgno
Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases, P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Ivermectin (IVM) is a broad spectrum endectocide whose initial indication was onchocerciasis. Although loiasis is not among its indications, IVM also exhibits antiparasitic activity against Loa loa. IVM-based preventive chemotherapies (PCs), so-called community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI), have led to the interruption of transmission of onchocerciasis in some foci. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Yabassi Health District where CDTI have been implemented since 20 years to fight onchocerciasis. All volunteers aged ≥ 5 years underwent daytime calibrated thick blood smears to search for L. loa microfilariae (mf). The prevalence of loiasis was 3.7% (95% CI: 2.2–6.2), significantly lower than its baseline prevalence (12.4%; 95% CI: 10.1–15.2; Chi-Square = 21.4; df = 1; p p 2 decades of CDTI in this Health District.
