A new approach to the treatment of filariasis

Taylor, Mark ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3396-9275 and Hoerauf, A. (2001) 'A new approach to the treatment of filariasis'. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases, Vol 14, Issue 6, pp. 727-731.

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Abstract

The symbiosis of filarial nematodes and intracellular Wolbachia bacteria has recently been exploited as a target for antibiotic therapy of filariasis. Antibiotic treatment of filarial nematodes results in sterility and inhibits larval development and adult worm viability. In the first trial on human onchocerciasis depletion of bacteria following treatment with doxycycline resulted in a complete and long-term block of embryogenesis. Bacteria are unable to repopulate nematode tissues up to 18 months after depletion, suggesting these effects may be permanent. Following ivermectin treatment, individuals given antibiotic therapy showed sustained reductions in skin microfilariae, with the majority of people remaining microfilarial negative 12-18 months after treatment. Since Wolbachia also contribute to the inflammatory pathogenesis of filarial disease, antibiotic therapy could, in addition to effects on worm fertility or viability, prevent the onset or development of filarial pathology.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QV Pharmacology > Anti-Bacterial Agents. Tissue Extracts > QV 350 Anti-bacterial agents (General or not elsewhere classified) QX Parasitology > Helminths. Annelida > QX 203 Nematoda WA Public Health > Preventive Medicine > WA 110 Prevention and control of communicable diseases. Transmission of infectious diseases WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 880 Filariasis and related conditions (General)
Faculty: Department:	Pre 2002
Depositing User:	Lynn Roberts-Maloney
Date Deposited:	03 Apr 2014 11:40
Last Modified:	16 Sep 2019 09:01
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/3199

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