Impact of Long-Term Ivermectin Treatment on Onchocerciasis in Ecuador
Author Information
Author(s): Juan Carlos Vieira, Philip J. Cooper, Raquel Lovato, Tamara Mancero, Jorge Rivera, Roberto Proaño, Andrea A. López, Ronald H. Guderian, José Rumbea Guzmán
Primary Institution: Programa Nacional de Eliminación de la Oncocercosis en el Ecuador, Servicio Nacional de Control de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores Artrópodos, Ministry of Public Health, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Hypothesis
Can long-term treatment with ivermectin eliminate Onchocerca volvulus infection in endemic areas of Ecuador?
Conclusion
Ivermectin distribution in Ecuador has likely eliminated ocular morbidity and made significant progress towards eliminating the infection.
Supporting Evidence
- Ivermectin reduced the prevalence of anterior segment disease of the eye to 0% in sentinel communities.
- High rates of treatment coverage of the eligible population were maintained at a mean of 85.2% per treatment round.
- The study indicates that the infection may have been eliminated in some foci after 14 years of treatment.
Takeaway
This study shows that giving a medicine called ivermectin to people in certain areas can help get rid of a disease that causes blindness.
Methodology
The study monitored the impact of annual to twice-annual ivermectin treatments in seven sentinel communities over a period of 14 years.
Limitations
The study may not fully represent all endemic communities, and some areas still show active infection.
Participant Demographics
Eligible participants included individuals over 15 kg in weight, excluding pregnant women and those with serious illnesses.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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