Skip to main content
Bulletin of the World Health Organization logoLink to Bulletin of the World Health Organization
. 1984;62(4):509–515.

Recent developments in the treatment of onchocerciasis*

Hugh R Taylor
PMCID: PMC2536340  PMID: 6333293

Abstract

The treatment of onchocerciasis using diethylcarbamazine and suramin sodium, which can kill different stages of the parasite, Onchocerca volvulus, remains unsatisfactory. Recent studies have more clearly defined the serious limitations of the existing forms of treatment. However, two new classes of compounds, the benzimidazoles and avermectins, offer exciting new leads in the search for a safe and effective treatment that could be used on a large scale.

Full text

PDF
509

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Albiez E. J. Studies on nodules and adult Onchocerca volvulus during a nodulectomy trial in hyperendemic villages in Liberia and Upper Volta. I. Palpable and impalpable onchocercomata. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1983 Mar;34(1):54–60. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Anderson J., Fuglsang H., de C Marshall T. F. Effects of diethylcarbamazine on ocular onchocerciasis. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1976 Sep;27(3):263–278. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Anderson J., Fuglsang H., de C Marshall T. F. Effects of suramin on ocular onchocerciasis. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1976 Sep;27(3):279–296. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Awadzi K., Gilles H. M. The chemotherapy of onchocerciasis iii. A comparative study of diethylcarbamazide (DEC) and metrifonate. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1980 Apr;74(2):199–210. doi: 10.1080/00034983.1980.11687331. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Awadzi K., Orme M. L., Breckenridge A. M., Gilles H. M. The chemotherapy of onchocerciasis VI. The effect of indomethacin and cyproheptadine on the Mazzotti reaction. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1982 Jun;76(3):323–330. doi: 10.1080/00034983.1982.11687548. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Awadzi K., Orme M. L., Breckenridge A. M., Gilles H. M. The chemotherapy of onchocerciasis VII. The effect of prednisone on the Mazzotti reaction. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1982 Jun;76(3):331–338. doi: 10.1080/00034983.1982.11687549. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Awadzi K., Schulz-Key H., Howells R. E., Haddock D. R., Gilles H. M. The chemotherapy of onchocerciasis VIII Levamisole and its combination with the benzimidazoles. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1982 Aug;76(4):459–473. doi: 10.1080/00034983.1982.11687567. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Bird A. C., el-Sheikh H., Anderson J., Fuglsang H. Changes in visual function and in the posterior segment of the eye during treatment of onchocerciasis with diethylcarbamazine citrate. Br J Ophthalmol. 1980 Mar;64(3):191–200. doi: 10.1136/bjo.64.3.191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Brugmans J. P., Thienpont D. C., van Wijngaarden I., Vanparijs O. F., Schuermans V. L., Lauwers H. L. Mebendazole in enterobiasis. Radiochemical and pilot clinical study in 1,278 subjects. JAMA. 1971 Jul 19;217(3):313–316. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Collins R. C., Lujan R., Figueroa H., Campbell C. C. Early formation of the nodule in Guatemalan onchocerciasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1982 Mar;31(2):267–269. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1982.31.267. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Denham D. A., Samad R., Cho S. Y., Suswillo R. R., Skippins S. C. The anthelmintic effects of flubendazole on Brugia pahangi. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1979;73(6):673–676. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(79)90018-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Desowitz R. S., Palumbo N. E., Perri S. F., Sylvester M. S. Inhibition of the adverse reaction to diethylcarbamazine in Dirofilaria immitis-infected dogs by lodoxamide ethyl. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1982 Mar;31(2):309–312. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1982.31.309. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Dominguez-Vazquez A., Taylor H. R., Greene B. M., Ruvalcaba-Macias A. M., Rivas-Alcala A. R., Murphy R. P., Beltran-Hernandez F. Comparison of flubendazole and diethylcarbamazine in treatment of onchocerciasis. Lancet. 1983 Jan 22;1(8317):139–143. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)92753-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Duke B. O., Hawking F. Trial of thiabendazole for the treatment of onchocerciasis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1967;61(2):273–273. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(67)90169-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Duke B. O. Letter: Further trial of levamisole against Onchocerca volvulus. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1975;69(2):287–288. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(75)90173-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Duke B. O. The effects of drugs on Onchocerca volvulus. 1. Methods of assessment, population dynamics of the parasite and the effects of diethylcarbamazine. Bull World Health Organ. 1968;39(2):137–146. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Fuglsang H., Anderson J. Effects of a single dose of metrifonate on the forest strain of Onchocerca volvulus in Cameroon. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1977 Dec;28(4):439–446. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Greene B. M., Taylor H. R., Brown E. J., Humphrey R. L., Lawley T. J. Ocular and systemic complications of diethylcarbamazine therapy for onchocerciasis: association with circulating immune complexes. J Infect Dis. 1983 May;147(5):890–897. doi: 10.1093/infdis/147.5.890. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Greene B. M., Taylor H. R., Humphrey R. L. Proteinuria associated with diethylcarbamazine treatment of onchocerciasis. Lancet. 1980 Feb 2;1(8162):254–255. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(80)90737-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hawking F. Suramin: with special reference to onchocerciasis. Adv Pharmacol Chemother. 1978;15:289–322. doi: 10.1016/s1054-3589(08)60486-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Jones B. R., Anderson J., Fuglsang H. Evaluation of microfilaricidal effects in the cornea from topically applied drugs in ocular onchocerciasis: Trials with levamisole and mebendazole. Br J Ophthalmol. 1978 Jul;62(7):440–444. doi: 10.1136/bjo.62.7.440. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kale O. O. Further trials of mebendazole and metrifonate in the treatment of onchocerciasis. Bull World Health Organ. 1982;60(1):109–113. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Kale O. Small-scale trials of six drugs against Onchocerca volvulus. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1978 Jun;29(2):163–167. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Maertens K., Wéry M. Effect of mebendazole and levamisole on Onchocerca volvulus and Dipetalonema perstans. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1975;69(3):359–360. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(75)90134-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Meyers W. M., Neafie R. C., Connor D. H. Onchocerciasis: invasion of deep organs by Onchocerca volvulus. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1977 Jul;26(4):650–657. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1977.26.650. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Prod'hon J., Moreau J. P., Mongin C. Chimiothérapie de l'onchocercose. I. Essais de traitement de masse par la diéthylcarbamazine, le lévamisole et l'association diéthylcarbamazine + lévamisole. Med Trop (Mars) 1979 Nov-Dec;39(6):619–628. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Rivas-Alcala A. R., Greene B. M., Taylor H. R., Domiguez-Vaques A., Ruvalcaba-Macias A. M., Lugo-Pfeiffer C., Beltran-Hernandez F. 12 month follow-up of mebendazole therapy for onchocerciasis. Lancet. 1981 Nov 7;2(8254):1043–1043. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(81)91235-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Rivas-Alcalá A. R., Greene B. M., Taylor H. R., Domíguez-Vázquez A., Ruvalcaba-Macías A. M., Lugo-Pfeiffer C., Mackenzie C. D., Beltrán F. Chemotherapy of onchocerciasis: a controlled comparison of mebendazole, levamisole, and diethylcarbamazine. Lancet. 1981 Sep 5;2(8245):485–490. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(81)90880-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Rougemont A., Thylefors B., Ducam M., Prost A., Ranque P., Delmont J. Traitement de l'onchocercose par la suramine à faibles doses progressives dans les collectivités hyperendémiques d'Afrique occidentale. 1. Résultats parasitologiques et surveillance ophtalmologique en zone de transmission non interrompue. Bull World Health Organ. 1980;58(6):917–922. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Saimot A. G., Meulemans A., Hay J. M., Mohler J., Manuel C., Coulaud J. P. Etude pharmacocinétique du flubendazole au cours de l'hydatidose humaine à E. granulosus. Résultats préliminaires. Nouv Presse Med. 1981 Oct 24;10(38):3121–3124. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Sowa J., Sowa S. C. Long-term treatment of onchocerciasis in children with low doses of diethylcarbamazine. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1978 Feb;72(1):79–85. doi: 10.1080/00034983.1978.11719282. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Taylor H. R., Greene B. M., Langham M. E. Controlled clinical trial of oral and topical diethylcarbamazine in treatment of onchocerciasis. Lancet. 1980 May 3;1(8175):943–946. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(80)91402-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Taylor H. R., Greene B. M. Ocular changes with oral and transepidermal diethylcarbamazine therapy of onchocerciasis. Br J Ophthalmol. 1981 Jul;65(7):494–502. doi: 10.1136/bjo.65.7.494. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Taylor H. R., Langham M. E., de Stahl E. M., Figueroa L. N., Beltranena F. Chemotherapy of onchocerciasis: a controlled clinical trial of topical diethylcarbamazine (DEC) in Guatemala. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1980 Sep;31(3):357–364. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Van den Bossche H. A new look at the mode of action of some old and new antifilarial compounds. Ann Soc Belg Med Trop. 1981 Jun;61(2):287–296. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Wilson J. F., Rausch R. L. Mebendazole and alveolar hydatid disease. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1982 Apr;76(2):165–173. doi: 10.1080/00034983.1982.11687523. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Wolf H., Schulz-Key H., Albiez E. J., Geister R., Büttner D. W. Analysis of enzymatically isolated adults of Onchocerca volvulus after treatment of patients with suramin or metrifonate. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1980 Jun;31(2):143–148. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Bulletin of the World Health Organization are provided here courtesy of World Health Organization

RESOURCES