Evaluation of the Impact of Oral Ivermectin on Musca Sorbens Flies, Putative Vector of Trachoma (IVERMUSC)

June 17, 2026 updated by: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Evaluation of the Impact of Oral Ivermectin (150 Micrograms/kg) on Musca Sorbens, the Putative Vector of Trachoma

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 Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

12

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United Kingdom
      • London, United Kingdom, WC1E 7HT
        • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Anna Last, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Able and willing to give fully informed consent
  • Able to understand and comply with the study procedures
  • Able to produce a stool on most days
  • Consider themselves to be in good general health
  • Aged 18 to 65 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Suspected or known to be sensitive or allergic to ivermectin
  • Women who are pregnant, nursing or intending to become pregnant
  • Aware of having any neurological disorders or recent history of seizures
  • History of travel to a region endemic for Loa loa.
  • Currently taking acenocoumarol, warfarin or levimasole

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Ivermectin treatment
Participants to receive safe oral dose of ivermectin
Drug: Ivermectin
Oral dose of ivermectin (150 micrograms/kg)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Musca sorbens larvae surviving to adulthood
Time Frame: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
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.
Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Concentration of ivermectin in faeces
Time Frame: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
The mean concentration of ivermectin in faecal samples (ng/g) and tear samples (ng/mL) at baseline and at each post-treatment time point.
Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
First oviposition event
Time Frame: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
The time from presentation of each faecal sample to the first oviposition event by Musca sorbens at baseline and each post-treatment time point.
Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
Behvioural response
Time Frame: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
Observed behavioural response(s) of adult female Musca sorbens when presented with faecal samples at baseline and each post-treatment time point.
Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
Adult fly survival
Time Frame: Each time pointDays 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment
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.
Each time pointDays 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 30 post treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 11, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 17, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 32885

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Study outcomes are not related to the participant.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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