This study will provide preliminary data on the safety of IDA treatment in persons with onchocerciasis when it is administered after pre-treatment with IVM to clear or greatly reduce microfilariae from the skin and eyes. Widespread use of IDA following IVM pretreatment (I/IDA) has the potential to greatly accelerate elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in African countries that are co-endemic for LF and onchocerciasis. study later.~This study will also assess the efficacy of IDA for killing and sterilizing adult filarial worms. An improved macrofilaricidal treatment would be a major advance for the global program to eliminate onchocerciasis. Since the safety and efficacy objectives are both very important, we have included dual primary objectives for the study.~Primary objectives:~Safety: To compare rates and types of severe adverse events (grade 3 or higher) that occur within 7 days following 1 day or 3 days of treatment with triple drug treatment (IDA = diethylcarbamazine (DEC) with ivermectin (IVM) and albendazole (ALB)) with the comparator regimen of 1 day of treatment with ivermectin and albendazole (IA) in persons with active Onchocerca volvulus infections after pretreatment with ivermectin alone.~Efficacy: To compare the effect of three treatment regimens (1 day of IDA, 3 days of IDA, or IA) for killing or sterilizing adult female O. volvulus worms based on the percentage of all adult female worms in nodules that are alive with embryos in the uterus 18 months after treatment.~This is an open label, randomized clinical trial.
This DOLF study will investigate the safety and effectiveness of IDA treatment in persons with onchocerciasis when it is administered after pre-treatment with ivermectin to clear or greatly reduce microfilariae from the skin and eyes.