Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2001:1:12.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-1-12. Epub 2001 Nov 6.

Macrofilaricides and onchocerciasis control, mathematical modelling of the prospects for elimination

W S Alley  1 , G J van Oortmarssen, B A Boatin, N J Nagelkerke, A P Plaisier, J H Remme, J Lazdins, G J Borsboom, J D Habbema
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Macrofilaricides and onchocerciasis control, mathematical modelling of the prospects for elimination

W S Alley et al. BMC Public Health. 2001.

Abstract

Background: In most endemic parts of the world, onchocerciasis (river blindness) control relies, or will soon rely, exclusively on mass treatment with the microfilaricide ivermectin. Worldwide eradication of the parasite by means of this drug is unlikely. Macrofilaricidal drugs are currently being developed for human use.

Methods: We used ONCHOSIM, a microsimulation mathematical model of the dynamics of onchocerciasis transmission, to explore the potentials of a hypothetical macrofilaricidal drug for the elimination of onchocerciasis under different epidemiological conditions, as characterized by previous intervention strategies, vectorial capacity and levels of coverage.

Results: With a high vector biting rate and poor coverage, a very effective macrofilaricide would appear to have a substantially higher potential for achieving elimination of the parasite than does ivermectin.

Conclusions: Macrofilaricides have a substantially higher potential for achieving onchocerciasis elimination than ivermectin, but high coverage levels are still key. When these drugs become available, onchocerciasis elimination strategies should be reconsidered. In view of the impact of control efforts preceding the introduction of macrofilaricides on the success of elimination, it is important to sustain current control efforts.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. World Health Organization Onchocerciasis and its Control, WHO Technical Report Services, N° 852. 1995. - PubMed
    1. Duke BOL. Human onchocerciasis – An overview of the disease. Acta Leiden. 1990;59:9–24. - PubMed
    1. Molyneux DH. Onchocerciasis Control in West Africa: current status and future of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme. Parasit Today. 1995;11:399–401. doi: 10.1016/0169-4758(95)80016-6. - DOI
    1. Blanks J, Richards F, Beltran F, Collins R, Alvarez E, Zea Flores G, Bauler B, Cedillos R, Heisler M, Brandling-Bennett D, Baldwin W, Bayona M, Klein R, Jacox M. The Onchocerciasis Elimination Program for the Americas: a history of partnership. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 1998;3:367–74. - PubMed
    1. Remme JHF. The African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control: preparing to launch. Parasit Today. 1995;11:403–406. doi: 10.1016/0169-4758(95)80017-4. - DOI

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources