Macrofilaricidal effects of chloroquine on adult Onchocerca volvulus by local infiltration of palpable onchocercal nodules

• Main Authors: Ronald H. Guderian, Mariela Anselmi, Philip J. Cooper, Martha E. Chico
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 1997
• Subjects: Onchocerciasis; Nodules; Infiltration; Chloroquine; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/567017ad0ce640d9a50593695d2ad2af

The macrofilaricidal effects of local infiltration of high concentrations of chloroquine into the capsule of onchocercal nodules on adult worms of Onchocerca volvulus was determined. Six weeks post infiltration, histological examination of single nodules showed all adult worms to be dead. With nodule conglomerates, there was localized action of chloroquine only on the adult worms in the infiltrated nodule, with no diffusion of the drug to adjacent nodules. Chloroquine infiltration of young, recently formed nodules to reduce the adult worm load of infected individuals may be an alternative method to costly nodulectomy.