Progress in the national schistosomiasis control programme of Iran.

A combination of chemotherapy and mollusciciding has been used in Khuzestan, south-west Iran, since 1966, to try to control urinary schistosomiasis. The total amount of molluscicide used each year varied between 702 and 3505 kg and between 287 and 1320 infected persons were detected and treated annually. The prevalence of infection has gradually declined from 8.

Evaluation of the effect of a single dose of tinidazole (Fasigyn) in giardiasis.

The effect of tinidazole in a single dose in the treatment of giardiasis has been evaluated in 165 cases, found in 5 villages in Kazeroon, Southern Iran. A reduction of 94.5 per cent in the positive stool tests in treated cases was obtained, while this reduction was only 10 per cent in 30 control cases.

An evaluation of levamisole for treatment of ascariasis.

Levamisole (Decaris, Belgium) was tested in Iran, Brazil, and in Mississippi and Louisiana for its efficacy as a single-dose oral treatment for Ascaris infections. Subjects were children ages 2 to 15 years, and numbers treated with levamisole and comparative anthelmintics are as follows: 453 with levamisole; 461 with piperazine citrate; 17 with pyrantel pamoate; and 19 with a placebo. Cure rates and total reduction in mean egg counts observed were 92% and 98% respectively for levamisole and 66% and 90% for piperazine.

Evaluation of the effect of different methods of control of soil-transmitted helminths in Khuzestan, southwest Iran.

Three methods of control of soil-transmitted helminths, namely, sanitation, mass-treatment, and sanitation plus mass-treatment, were tried in 15 villages in Khuzestan, southwest Iran. Stool samples from the inhabitants of each village were examined both quantitatively and qualitatively just before starting each control method and again about 4 years later, except for the inhabitants of one village whose stools were re-examined 7 months after moving to a new settlement. Sanitation measures consisted of one latrine for each family and the provision of a sanitary water supply in each village.

Comparative studies on the evaluation of the effect of new anthelminthics on various intestinal helminthiasis in Iran. Effects of anthelminthics on intestinal helminthiasis.

The effect of pyrantel pamoate, levamisole, mebendazole, thiabendazole and bephenium hydroxynaphthoate on various intestinal helminths were evaluated among the inhabitants of four villages in the Dezful area southwest of Iran. A total number of 328 persons, all infected simultaneously with Ascaris and hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale) and 49.2% with Trichostrongylus spp.