Efficacy of albendazole against Giardia and hookworm in a remote Aboriginal community in the north of Western Australia

Acta Trop. 1998 Aug 15;71(1):27-44. doi: 10.1016/s0001-706x(98)00048-5.

Abstract

The parasitological, clinical efficacy and tolerability of albendazole in the treatment for both giardiasis and hookworm infection in a remote Aboriginal population was investigated. Albendazole at a dose rate of 400 mg daily for 5 days was highly effective in reducing hookworm egg numbers and both Giardia antigen and cysts. The 36.6% prevalence of Giardia prior to treatment fell to 12% between days 6 and 9, 15% for days 10-17 and rose to 28% between days 18 and 30. Tolerability and clinical efficacy were excellent. The effect of albendazole on hookworm was longer lasting than that on Giardia, reducing percent infection from over 76-2% on days 6-9 and zero by day 18-30 despite conditions highly conducive to rapid re-infection. We conclude that albendazole is highly efficacious against both parasites when used as described but that long term community benefit may require additional education programmes to avoid re-infection with Giardia although treatment strategies would seem appropriate for hookworm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Albendazole / pharmacology
  • Albendazole / therapeutic use*
  • Ancylostoma / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / pharmacology
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Antigens, Helminth / analysis
  • Antigens, Protozoan / analysis
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Giardia / drug effects
  • Giardiasis / drug therapy*
  • Giardiasis / epidemiology
  • Hookworm Infections / drug therapy*
  • Hookworm Infections / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander*
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Prevalence
  • Sex Factors
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Western Australia / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Albendazole