Collateral Impact of Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) for Onchocerciasis on Parasitological Indicators of <em>Loa loa</em> Infection

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• onchocerciasis
• CDTI
• loiasis
• collateral impact
• Cameroon