Potential mitigating role of ivermectin on the spread of chlamydia trachomatis by Musca sorbens

Summary

The blinding disease trachoma is targeted for elimination as a public health problem through implementation of the “SAFE strategy” (surgery, antibiotics, particularly with azithromycin, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement).

This paper assesses whether ivermectin (a drug used for onchocerciasis/ lymphatic filariasis) mass drug administration (MDA) could be a viable vector control tool against the bazaar fly, Musca sorbens. The results presented suggest that evaluation units receiving both ivermectin and azithromycin MDA had improved control of trachoma, when compared to those that had only received azithromycin MDA. This finding led to the design of laboratory and field-based studies to investigate any impact from ivermectin on M. sorbens and ultimately trachoma transmission.