Can mass drug administration lead to the sustainable control of schistosomiasis?

Allen G.P. Ross*, Remigio M. Olveda, Delia Chy, David U. Olveda, Yuesheng Li, Donald A. Harn, Darren J. Gray, Donald P. McManus, Veronica Tallo, Thao N.P. Chau, Gail M. Williams

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background In the Philippines, the current national control strategy for schistosomiasis is annual mass drug administration (MDA) with 40 mg/kg of praziquantel in all schistosomiasis-endemic villages with a prevalence ≥10%. Methods A cross-sectional survey of schistosomiasis was conducted in 2012 on 18 221 individuals residing in 22 schistosomiasis-endemic villages in the province of Northern Samar. The prevalence of schistosomiasis, intensity of Schistosoma infection, and morbidity of disease were assessed. Results Despite an active schistosomiasis-control program in Northern Samar for >30 years, which included a MDA campaign in the last 5 years, the mean prevalence of schistosomiasis among 10 435 evaluated subjects was 27.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 26.3%-28.0%), and the geometric mean intensity of infection among 2832 evaluated subjects was 17.2 eggs per gram of feces (95% CI, 16.4-18.1). Ultrasonography revealed high levels of schistosomiasis-induced morbidity in the schistosomiasis-endemic communities. Left lobe liver enlargement (≥70 mm) was evident in 89.3% of subjects. Twenty-five percent of the study population had grade II/III liver parenchyma fibrosis, and 13.3% had splenomegaly (≥100 mm). Conclusions MDA on its own was insufficient to control the prevalence of schistosomiasis, intensity of Schistosoma infection, or morbidity of the disease. Alternative control measures will be needed to complement the existing national MDA program.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)283-289
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume211
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2015
Externally publishedYes

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