Publication

Effects of Ivermectin Mass Drug Administration for Malaria Vector Control on Ectoparasites and Soil-Transmitted Helminths: A Cluster Randomised Trial

Kositz C, Drammeh M, Vasileva H, et al. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. Elsevier BV. 2022;

Abstract

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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DOI

Type

Journal Article

Author

Kositz C

Drammeh M

Vasileva H

Houghton J

Ashall J

D'Alessandro PU