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The Food and Drug Administration approves the drug for treatment of two conditions caused by parasitic worms and occurring chiefly in tropical habitats — intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis — as well as head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea, for which topical applications are approved.

Besides veterinary use, ivermectin is FDA-approved for humans in oral formulations to treat diseases caused by parasitic worms; “river blindness,” a disease caused by a worm transmitted through the bites of blackflies, transmitted in Africa and South America; and intestinal strongyloidiasis, in which a roundworm parasite has infected the body.

Still, that meant strongyloidiasis was also a potential culprit.

Iammatteo said she would test for both toxocariasis and strongyloidiasis.