02021nas a2200241 4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653002400058653002700082653002100109100001300130700001400143700001500157700001500172700001300187700002000200700001200220700001400232245015400246856007600400520128900476022001401765 2022 d bElsevier BV10aInfectious Diseases10aMicrobiology (medical)10aGeneral Medicine1 aKositz C1 aDrammeh M1 aVasileva H1 aHoughton J1 aAshall J1 aD'Alessandro PU1 aMarks M1 aBradley J00aEffects of Ivermectin Mass Drug Administration for Malaria Vector Control on Ectoparasites and Soil-Transmitted Helminths: A Cluster Randomised Trial uhttps://www.ijidonline.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1201-9712%2822%2900583-53 a

Ivermectin, used to control several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), may also reduce malaria transmission. Mass drug administration (MDA) for malaria control therefore might have off-target impacts on NTDs.

Methods

In the Gambia, nested in a trial of ivermectin MDA, cross-sectional surveys measuring ectoparasites and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in children aged 3 to 14 took place in June and November 2019, and in November 2021.

Results

Following MDA, scabies prevalence was 41.2% (237/576) in the control and 38.2% (182/476) in the intervention arm (OR 0.89 (95%CI 0 67 - 1 .2), p= 0.471) but by 2021 had rebounded to 38.8% (180/464) in the control and 53.2% (245/458) in the intervention arm. After MDA, prevalence of S. stercoralis was 16.8% (87/518) in the control and 9.1% (40/440) in the intervention arm (OR 0.4 (95%CI 0.16 – 0.94), p = 0.039). In 2021 it was 9.2% (38/413) in the control and 11.3% (45/399) in the intervention arm (OR 1.31 (95%CI 0.74 - 2.28), p = 0.35).

Conclusion

Scabies prevalence was similar between the two study arms. S. stercoralis prevalence was reduced. However, this effect did not last long: prevalence 2 years post MDA was similar between study arms.

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