Trachoma is caused by repeated Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the eye. Routes of infection include close person-to-person contact and contaminated clothing. In addition, the bazaar fly Musca sorbens has been implicated in transmission. These flies frequently visit the faces of children and have been found positive for C. trachomatis, which may be transferred from the body of the flies or their regurgitated or defecated material. This study aims to give recruited healthy volunteers a safe dose of oral ivermectin. Their faeces will be collected over subsequent days to determine whether ivermectin excreted from the body results in faecal concentrations that are high enough to prevent emergence of M. sorbens developing in faeces. It will also quantify ivermectin concentrations in tears secretions and faecal samples for up to 30 days post-treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
12
Oral dose of ivermectin (150 micrograms/kg)
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
London, United Kingdom
Musca sorbens larvae surviving to adulthood
The difference in the mean number of Musca sorbens larvae surviving to adulthood in faecal samples collected at each post-treatment time point compared to pre-treatment samples. The treatment effect will be estimated separately at each time point.
Time frame: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
Concentration of ivermectin in faeces
The mean concentration of ivermectin in faecal samples (ng/g) and tear samples (ng/mL) at baseline and at each post-treatment time point.
Time frame: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
First oviposition event
The time from presentation of each faecal sample to the first oviposition event by Musca sorbens at baseline and each post-treatment time point.
Time frame: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
Behvioural response
Observed behavioural response(s) of adult female Musca sorbens when presented with faecal samples at baseline and each post-treatment time point.
Time frame: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
Adult fly survival
The survival of adult female Musca sorbens when presented with faecal samples collected at baseline and each post-treatment time point, measured as time to death.
Time frame: Each time pointDays 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
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