[Onchocerciasis chemotherapy. II. Evaluation of two therapeutic schemes on microfilarial density, utilising the association diethylcarbamazine and levamisole (author's transl)].

As the study of the association diethylcarbamazine-levamisole gave encouraging results on the dermal microfilarial density of Onchocerca volvulus (Leuckart, 1893), the authors followed it up in order to determine the optimum regimen for mass treatment. Two therapeutic schemes have been tested: A--Initial treatment: 14 days with the dayly dosis of respectively 200 mg of diethylcarbamazine and 120 mg of levamisole progressively reached in four days. After one year: a single dayly dosis of respectively 200 mg and 60 mg for five days. B--Initial treatment: 7 days with the same dosis as above. After one year: dayly dosis of respectively 200 mg and 60 mg for seven days. It appears that scheme A may be considered as the best baseline to achieve the optimum regimen for the mass treatment of onchocerciasis. The aim of such a treatment is to decrease the dermal microfilarial density to a level compatible with the patient good condition.