Antibiotic chemotherapy of onchocerciasis: In a bovine model, killing of adult parasites requires a sustained depletion of endosymbiotic bacteria (Wolbachia species)

Gilbert, J., Nfon, C.K., Makepeace, Benjamin L., Njongmeta, L.M., Hastings, Ian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1332-742X, Pfarr, K. M., Renz, A., Tanya, V. N. and Trees, Alexander J. (2005) 'Antibiotic chemotherapy of onchocerciasis: In a bovine model, killing of adult parasites requires a sustained depletion of endosymbiotic bacteria (Wolbachia species)'. Journal of Infectious Disease, Vol 192, Issue 8, pp. 1483-1493.

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Abstract

Development of a drug lethal to adult Onchocerca volvulus (i.e., macrofilaricide) is a research priority for the control of human onchocerciasis. Using bovine O.ochengi infections, we investigated the effects of oxytetracycline administered in a short intensive regimen (SIR; 10 mg/kg daily for 14 days), compared with a prolonged intermittent regimen (PIR; 20 mg/kg monthly for 6 months) or a combination of both (COM), on the viability of adult worms and their endosymbiotic bacteria (Wolbachia species). The long-term treatments eliminated > 80% ( COM) or > 60% (PIR) of adult female worms (P <.001), and the COM regimen effected a sustained depletion P > 001 of Wolbachia organisms. Conversely, SIR was not macrofilaricidal and only transiently depleted Wolbachia densities, which repopulated worm tissues by 24 weeks after treatment. These results unequivocally demonstrate the macrofilaricidal potential of tetracyclines against Onchocerca infection and suggest that intermittent, protracted administration will be more effective than continuous shorter term treatment.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QV Pharmacology > Anti-Bacterial Agents. Tissue Extracts > QV 360 Tetracyclines QX Parasitology > Helminths. Annelida > QX 301 Filarioidea WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 885 Onchocerciasis
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1086/462426
Depositing User:	Ms Julia Martin
Date Deposited:	30 Aug 2011 13:20
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2019 11:29
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/1918

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