Comparison of Kato-Katz thick-smear and McMaster egg counting method for the assessment of drug efficacy against soil-transmitted helminthiasis in school children in Jimma Town, Ethiopia

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Oct;109(10):669-71. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trv073.

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of studies that compare efficacy of drugs obtained by different diagnostic methods.

Methods: We compared the efficacy of a single oral dose albendazole (400 mg), measured as egg reduction rate, against soil-transmitted helminth infections in 210 school children (Jimma Town, Ethiopia) using both Kato-Katz thick smear and McMaster egg counting method.

Results: Our results indicate that differences in sensitivity and faecal egg counts did not imply a significant difference in egg reduction rate estimates.

Conclusion: The choice of a diagnostic method to assess drug efficacy should not be based on sensitivity and faecal egg counts only.

Keywords: Anthelminthic drug efficacy; Egg reduction rate; Ethiopia; Kato-Katz thick smear; McMaster egg counting method; Soil-transmitted helminths.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Albendazole / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Ethiopia / epidemiology
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Helminthiasis / diagnosis
  • Helminthiasis / drug therapy*
  • Helminthiasis / epidemiology
  • Helminthiasis / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parasite Egg Count / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Soil / parasitology*

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Soil
  • Albendazole