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Abstract: A randomised clinical trial was conducted in Kabale District, southwestern Uganda, to compare the efficacies of single and double doses of a combination of 400mg albendazole (ALB) and 500mg mebendazole (MBZ) with those of single and double doses of each drug given alone in the treatment of Trichuris trichiura. Infected pupils (n =611) were randomised to six treatment groups. Three groups received either a single dose of ALB, MBZ or the combination (ALB+MBZ). The other three groups received either a double dose of ALB (ALB/ALB), MBZ (MBZ/MBZ) or the combination (ALB+MBZ/ALB+MBZ). All double doses were given 8h apart. Children were followed-up weekly for 1 month. Cure rates were significantly higher using double doses compared with single doses (irrespective of drug; z =−4.02, P <0.0005) as well as using the drug combination compared with single drugs (irrespective of doses; z =−7.64, P <0.0005). Cure rates measured at Day 7 were significantly higher than on Days 14 and 21 after treatment (Day 14, z =9.90, P <0.0005; Day 21, z =7.36, P <0.0005). Geometric mean (GM) intensities of positives were significantly lower on Day 7 compared with all other subsequent days (P <0.00005), and on Day 28 GM intensities reached pre-treatment levels (P =0.096). Whilst there was no difference in egg excretion between single and double doses of the same drug or drug combination (F (df 1) =50.90, P <0.00005). All the tested regimens of ALB and MBZ had low cure rates against T. trichiura in Uganda, but both combination treatments showed satisfactory egg reduction rates 3 weeks after treatment. [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01050452] [Copyright &y& Elsevier](df 2) =50.90, P <0.00005). All the tested regimens of ALB and MBZ had low cure rates against T. trichiura in Uganda, but both combination treatments showed satisfactory egg reduction rates 3 weeks after treatment. [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01050452] [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

AbstractTo ascertain the current status of strongyloidiasis in mothers and their preschool children, a field-based survey was conducted in western Uganda using a combination of diagnostic methods: ELISA, Baermann concentration and Koga agar plate. The prevalence of other soil-transmitted helminthiasis and intestinal schistosomiasis were also determined. In total, 158 mothers and 143 children were examined from five villages within Kabale, Hoima and Masindi districts. In mothers and children, the general prevalence of strongyloidiasis inferred by ELISA was ~4% and ~2%, respectively. Using the Baermann concentration method, two parasitologically proven cases were encountered in an unrelated mother and child, both of whom were sero-negative for strongyloidiasis. No infections were detected by Koga agar plate method. The general level of awareness of strongyloidiasis was very poor (?

Onchocerciasis is co-endemic with schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths infections, which are all diseases of the rural and the poorest communities in Africa. Community-directed treatment (ComDT) for the control of onchocerciasis is the only functional health approach in most of these communities and the strategy has proven to be effective for onchocerciasis control. This study was conducted to assess the feasibility of integrating ComDT with ivermectin for the control of onchocerciasis, and with praziquantel (PZQ) and mebendazole (MBD) for the control of schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths infections in children aged 5–14 years, and to assess advantages and disadvantages of the integrated ComDT over the routine ComDT and the school-based treatment approach . Integrated ComDT achieved higher treatment coverage (85%) for PZQ and MBD than the school-based treatment approach (79%) among children aged 5–14 years ( P = 0.03). There were more reported adverse reactions after treatment with a combination of PZQ and MBD in the school-based treatment approach (33%) than for the combination of ivermectin and MBD on day 1 and PZQ on day 2 in the integrated ComDT (18%). However, all adverse reactions were mild (headache, nausea/vomiting and abdominal pain). The integrated ComDT also achieved higher ivermectin treatment coverage for all ages (81.3%) than routine ComDT (77.2%) ( P = 0.0003). To achieve even better coverage for PZQ and MBD among the targeted high risk groups, integrated ComDT should treat all age groups in areas where the prevalence of schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths infections is >50%. This would minimize the shortage of the drugs targeted to treat the high risk groups, as the non-targeted groups, will inevitably demand and receive the treatment from the distributors. The results of this study show that PZQ and MBD treatment for the control of schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths, respectively, can be integrated with ivermectin treatment for the control of onchocerciasis without negatively affecting ivermectin treatment coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]