[Anthihelminthic activity of pyrantel pamoate administered in mass treatment of an isolated population of the South Pacific].

A stool examination survey on the Wuvulu island population in Papua-New Guinea let be shown off the high incidence of two helminthiasis, ascariasis and trichocephalosis (75-4 0/0 and 70 0/0 of the tested subjects) compared to the low incidence of ankylostomiasis (7 0/0). With pyrantel pamoate administered in one oral dose of 10 mg by kg of weight, results are excellent in ascariasis with 97-7 0/0 success. The efficiency is only partial in ankylostomiasis with that small dose. It is quite well tolerated and may be used in mass treatment and, taking into account the special characteristics of that small and far away island, an attempt to eradicate ascariasis through systematic reiterated treatments is being carried out.