development of drug resistance necessitates developing novel drugs or drug repurposing.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of single doses of Ivermectin (IVM) versus ABZ in
children infected with intestinal nematodes.
Subjects and Methods: A total of 136 schoolchildren (6-15 years old) infected with T. trichiura, A.
lumbricoides, and A. duodenale were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two treatment groups,
68 in each, receiving either ABZ or IVM. At days 0 and 14 post-treatment, one stool Kato-Katz thick smear
was performed for cure assessment in ABZ and IVM treated groups. Blood samples were collected at the
same time points to determine absolute eosinophil count and IL-5 serum level as additional parameters
to assess their prognostic role in drug efficacy.
Results: Compared to the ABZ cure rate (CR), IVM showed equivalent efficacy in treating A. lumbricoides.
However, it was unsuccessful in treating both T. trichiura and A. duodenale infections. High eosinophil counts
were recorded in the infected rather than non-infected children and their levels dropped significantly
after treatment with ABZ and IVM. High levels of IL-5 were observed in the infected children compared to
non-infected, with significant reduction after treatment with ABZ and IVM.
Conclusion: A single dose of IVM is a promising therapy for A. lumbricoides but was inefficient for treating
T. trichiura and hookworm infections. Although eosinophil counts and serum interleukin-5 (IL5) levels
decreased after treatment with ABZ and IVM, their function as effective prognostic parameters requires
more research to establish their relevance.