A transepidermal chemotherapy of onchocerciasis.

Counts of microfilariae in the skin, and histological and electronmicroscopic procedures have been used to analyze the response of onchocerciasis patients to diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) given either orally or topically. Oral administration of DRC failed to eliminate all microfilariae. Transepidermal DEC resulted in rapid degeneration of microfilariae, and daily single applications of the drug greatly reduced or apparently eliminated microfilariae from the skin. Following weekly topical applications of a DEC emulsion, effective suppression of O. volvulus microfilariae in patients living in a hyperendemic area was maintained for many months; and the dermal pathology resolved.