Comparison of Ivermectin and Diethylcarbamazine in the Treatment of Onchocerciasis

Abstract

We compared ivermectin with diethylcarbamazine for the treatment of onchocerciasis in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty men with moderate to heavy infection and ocular involvement were randomly assigned to receive ivermectin in a single oral dose (200 micrograms per kilogram of body weight), diethylcarbamazine daily for eight days, or placebo. Diethylcarbamazine caused a significantly more severe systemic reaction than ivermectin (P less than 0.001), whereas the reaction to ivermectin did not differ from the reaction to placebo. Diethylcarbamazine markedly increased the number of punctate opacities in the eye (P less than 0.001), as well as the number of dead and living microfilariae in the cornea over the first week of therapy. Ivermectin had no such effect. Both ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine promptly reduced skin microfilaria counts, but only in the ivermectin group did counts remain significantly lower (P less than 0.005) than in the placebo group at the end of six months of observation. Analysis of adult worms isolated from nodules obtained two months after the start of therapy showed no effect of either drug on viability. Ivermectin appears to be a better tolerated, safer, and more effective microfilaricidal agent than diethylcarbamazine for the treatment of onchocerciasis.

Comparison of ivermectin and thiabendazole in the treatment of uncomplicated human Strongyloides stercoralis infection

“…Single oral doses of ivermectin have been found to be highly effective and well tolerated (Greene et al, 1985;Richard-Lenoble, 1998). It has also been reported to have a wide spectrum of activity against many nematodes and ectoparasites of man and domestic animals, including Strongyloides westeri and Strongylus vulgaris (Goldsmith, 1988;Campbell, 1989).…”

Le prix Nobel de Médecine 2015 au service des pays tropicaux

“…Satoshi Ō mura adresse à MSD de nombreuses souches de Streptomyces, et les composés isolés sont criblés dans des modèles animaux à la recherche d'activité anti-infectieuse/antiparasitaire. [5,7,8]. L'onchocercose est une filariose due à un ver rond parasite spécifique de l'homme, Onchocerca volvulus, vivant dans le derme.…”

Community-based ivermectin therapy for onchocerciasis: comparison of three methods of dose assessment.

“…[1][2][3][4] Community trials indicate that a single dose (150 g/kg) markedly reduces skin microfilarial levels for up to 12 months, with a transient fall in transmission levels. 5 It also reduces the prevalence of some intestinal nematodes 6 and ectoparasitic infections.…”