Data from: Impact of an ivermectin mass drug administration on scabies prevalence in a remote Australian Aboriginal community

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Background: Scabies is endemic in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, with 69% of infants infected in the first year of life. We report the outcomes against scabies of two oral ivermectin mass drug administrations (MDAs) delivered 12 months apart in a remote Australian Aboriginal community. Methods: Utilizing a before and after study design, we measured scabies prevalence through population census with sequential MDAs at baseline and month 12. Surveys at months 6 and 18 determined disease acquisition and treatment failures. Scabies infestations were diagnosed clinically with additional laboratory investigations for crusted scabies. Non-pregnant participants weighing ≥15 kg were administered a single 200 μg/kg ivermectin dose, repeated after 2–3 weeks if scabies was diagnosed, others followed a standard alternative algorithm. Principal Findings: We saw >1000 participants at each population census. Scabies prevalence fell from 4% at baseline to 1% at month 6. Prevalence rose to 9% at month 12 amongst the baseline cohort in association with an identified exposure to a presumptive crusted scabies case with a higher prevalence of 14% amongst new entries to the cohort. At month 18, scabies prevalence fell to 2%. Scabies acquisitions six months after each MDA were 1% and 2% whilst treatment failures were 6% and 5% respectively. Conclusion: Scabies prevalence reduced in the six months after each MDA with a low risk of acquisition (1–2%). However, in a setting where living conditions are conducive to high scabies transmissibility, exposure to presumptive crusted scabies and population mobility, a sustained reduction in prevalence was not achieved. Clinical Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Register (ACTRN—12609000654257).,Scabies_Repository_finalScabies infestation status of human participants from a remote Aboriginal community in Northern Australia.,

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External Organisations
Royal Darwin Hospital; James Cook University; Monash University (Australia); Queensland Institute of Medical Research; La Trobe University

Associated Persons
James McCarthy (Creator)Therese M. Kearns (Creator); Linda Ward (Creator); Deborah C. Holt (Creator); Bart J. Currie (Creator); Roslyn Gundjirryirr (Creator); Leanne Bundhala (Creator); Mark Chatfield (Creator); Ross M. Andrews (Creator); Richard Speare (Creator); Allen C. Cheng (Creator); Jennifer Shield (Creator)