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

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).