Interruption of Onchocerca volvulus transmission in Northern Venezuela. 2013

Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet

BACKGROUND Onchocerciasis is caused by Onchocerca volvulus and transmitted by Simulium species (black flies). In the Americas, the infection has been previously described in 13 discrete regional foci distributed among six countries (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela) where more than 370,000 people are currently considered at risk. Since 2001, disease control in Venezuela has relied on the mass drug administration to the at-risk communities. This report provides empirical evidence of interruption of Onchocerca volvulus transmission by Simulium metallicum in 510 endemic communities from two Northern foci of Venezuela, after 10-12 years of 6-monthly Mectizan (ivermectin) treatment to all the eligible residents. METHODS In-depth entomologic and epidemiologic surveys were serially conducted from 2001-2012 in selected (sentinel and extra-sentinel) communities from the North-central (NC) and North-east (NE) onchocerciasis foci of Venezuela in order to monitor the impact of ivermectin treatment. RESULTS From 2007-2009, entomological indicators in both foci confirmed that 0 out of 112,637 S. metallicum females examined by PCR contained L3 infection in insect heads. The upper bound of the 95% confidence intervals of the infective rate of the vector reached values below 1% by 2009 (NC) and 2012 (NE). Additionally, after 14 (NC) and 22 (NE) rounds of treatment, the seasonal transmission potential (±UL CIs) of S. metallicum was under the critical threshold of 20 L3 per person per season. Serological analysis in school children < 15 years-old demonstrated that 0 out of 6,590 individuals were harboring antibodies to Ov-16. Finally, epidemiological surveys made during 2010 (NC) and 2012 (NE) showed no evidence of microfilariae in the skin and eyes of the population. CONCLUSIONS These results meet the WHO criteria for absence of parasite transmission and disease morbidity in these endemic areas which represent 91% of the population previously at-risk in the country. Consequently, the two Northern foci are currently under post-treatment onchocerciasis surveillance status in Venezuela.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007559 Ivermectin A mixture of mostly avermectin H2B1a (RN 71827-03-7) with some avermectin H2B1b (RN 70209-81-3), which are macrolides from STREPTOMYCES avermitilis. It binds glutamate-gated chloride channel to cause increased permeability and hyperpolarization of nerve and muscle cells. It also interacts with other CHLORIDE CHANNELS. It is a broad spectrum antiparasitic that is active against microfilariae of ONCHOCERCA VOLVULUS but not the adult form. Eqvalan,Ivomec,MK-933,Mectizan,Stromectol,MK 933,MK933
D008297 Male Males
D009855 Onchocerciasis Infection with nematodes of the genus ONCHOCERCA. Characteristics include the presence of firm subcutaneous nodules filled with adult worms, PRURITUS, and ocular lesions. Onchocerciases
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003140 Communicable Disease Control Programs of surveillance designed to prevent the transmission of disease by any means from person to person or from animal to man. Flatten the Curve of Epidemic,Flattening the Curve, Communicable Disease Control,Parasite Control,Control, Communicable Disease,Control, Parasite
D005260 Female Females
D006257 Head The upper part of the human body, or the front or upper part of the body of an animal, typically separated from the rest of the body by a neck, and containing the brain, mouth, and sense organs. Heads

Related Publications

Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
July 2010, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
July 2013, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
January 2013, PLoS neglected tropical diseases,
Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
January 2009, PLoS neglected tropical diseases,
Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
July 2010, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
November 1983, Bulletin de la Societe de pathologie exotique et de ses filiales,
Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
January 1990, Tropical and geographical medicine,
Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
January 1976, Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
December 1988, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
Jacinto Convit, and Harland Schuler, and Rafael Borges, and Vimerca Olivero, and Alfredo Domínguez-Vázquez, and Hortencia Frontado, and María E Grillet
January 2017, PloS one,
Copied contents to your clipboard!