Efficacy and safety of anti-worm drugs in schoolchildren in Zanzibar, Tanzania

ISRCTN ISRCTN08336605
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN08336605
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
18/02/2009
Registration date
24/02/2009
Last edited
24/09/2012
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Infections and Infestations
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Juerg Utzinger
Scientific

Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
Swiss Tropical Institute
P.O. Box
Basel
4002
Switzerland

Phone +41 (0)61 284 8129
Email juerg.utzinger@unibas.ch

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleEfficacy and safety of albendazole and mebendazole as single-dose or in combination with ivermectin against soil-transmitted helminth infections, particularly Trichuris trichiura, in schoolchildren in Zanzibar, Tanzania: a randomised controlled trial
Study acronymAlben-Meben-Ivermect-Zanzibar
Study objectives1. Combination therapy with either albendazole or mebendazole plus ivermectin is more efficacious against Trichuris trichiura that single therapy with either albendazole or mebendazole
2. Current efficacy of either albendazole or mebendazole (single dose) is low due the long-term administration of these drugs in the national helminth control programme in Zanzibar
3. The FLOTAC® technique is more sensitive than the Kato-Katz technique for helminth egg detection
Ethics approval(s)Ethikkommission beider Basel EKBB gave approval on the 15th January 2009 (ref: 13/09)
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSoil-transmitted helminthiasis
InterventionFour treatment groups as follows:
1. Single-dose albendazole; children will receive one tablet of albendazole (400 mg) and a placebo resembling ivermectin (number of tablets according to weight)
2. Mebendazole; children will receive a single dose of mebendazole (500 mg) and a placebo resembling ivermectin (number of tablets according to weight)
3. Albendazole plus ivermectin; children will receive one tablet of albendazole (400 mg) plus ivermectin tablets according to their weight (200 µg/kg)
4. Mebendazole plus ivermectin; children will receive one tablet of mebendazole (500 mg) plus ivermectin tablets according to their weight (200 µg/kg)

The treatment for the four arms will be administered on a single day; follow-up is 3 - 4 weeks post-treatment.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Albendazole, mebendazole, ivermectin
Primary outcome measure1. Cure rate of Trichuris trichiura infection (percentage of children with egg counts greater than 0 before treatment who become negative after treatment)
2. Egg reduction rate of Trichuris trichiura infection (reduction in egg count in a measured quantity of faeces following treatment in those not cured)
Secondary outcome measuresCure rate and egg reduction rate of Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm
Overall study start date01/03/2009
Completion date31/05/2009

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupChild
Lower age limit5 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants2000 children screened for helminth infections; ~600 children treated with anthelminthic drugs
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged greater than or equal to 5 years, both sexes
2. Submission of one stool sample of sufficient size to perform a total of two thick Kato-Katz smears at the baseline parasitological survey
3. Submission of one stool sample of sufficient size to perform a total of two thick Kato-Katz smears at the day of treatment
4. Infection with Trichuris trichiura as determined with the Kato-Katz method at the baseline survey. Additionally, also children with A. lumbricoides and/or hookworm infections will be included in one of the four treatment arms.
5. For females, not pregnant, as verbally assessed by medical personnel on the day of treatment
6. Absence of major systemic illnesses, as assessed by female medical personnel on the day of treatment
7. No anthelminthic treatment in the past 4 weeks, as verbally confirmed by the participant at the baseline survey
8. Written informed consent by the parent/legal guardian
Key exclusion criteria1. No stool sample given at baseline survey or day of treatment
2. No infection with T. trichiura, A. lumbricoides and/or hookworm at baseline
3. Subjects with fever or other signs of acute illness
4. Subjects with severe neurological disorder
5. Subjects with severe liver disorder
6. Pregnant schoolgirls
7. Recent history of anthelminthic treatment
8. Consent not given
Date of first enrolment01/03/2009
Date of final enrolment31/05/2009

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Switzerland
  • Tanzania

Study participating centre

Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
Basel
4002
Switzerland

Sponsor information

Swiss Tropical Institute (STI) (Switzerland)
Research organisation

c/o Juerg Utzinger
Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
P.O. Box
Basel
4002
Switzerland

Phone +41 (0)61 284 8129
Email juerg.utzinger@unibas.ch
Website http://www.sti.ch
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03adhka07

Funders

Funder type

Research organisation

Commission for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries (KFPE) (Switzerland)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 15/12/2010 Yes No
Results article results 12/04/2011 Yes No
Results article results 01/04/2012 Yes No