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Anti-Wolbachia therapy for onchocerciasis & lymphatic filariasis: current perspectives


Citation

Wan Sulaiman, Wan Aliaa and Kamtchum-Tatuene, Joseph and Mohamed, Mohd Hazmi and Ramachandran, Vasudevan and Siew, Mooi Ching and Mohd Sazlly Lim, Sazlyna and Hashim, Hasnur Zaman and Inche Mat, Liyana Najwa and Fan, Kee Hoo and Basri, Hamidon (2019) Anti-Wolbachia therapy for onchocerciasis & lymphatic filariasis: current perspectives. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 149 (6). pp. 706-714. ISSN 0971-5916

Abstract

Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) are human filarial diseases belonging to the group of neglected tropical diseases, leading to permanent and long-term disability in infected individuals in the endemic countries such as Africa and India. Microfilaricidal drugs such as ivermectin and albendazole have been used as the standard therapy in filariasis, although their efficacy in eliminating the diseases is not fully established. Anti-Wolbachia therapy employs antibiotics and is a promising approach showing potent macrofilaricidal activity and also prevents embryogenesis. This has translated to clinical benefits resulting in successful eradication of microfilarial burden, thus averting the risk of adverse events from target species as well as those due to co-infection with loiasis. Doxycycline shows potential as an anti-Wolbachia treatment, leading to the death of adult parasitic worms. It is readily available, cheap and safe to use in adult non-pregnant patients. Besides doxycycline, several other potential antibiotics are also being investigated for the treatment of LF and onchocerciasis. This review aims to discuss and summarise recent developments in the use of anti-Wolbachia drugs to treat onchocerciasis and LF.


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Additional Metadata

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_454_17
Publisher: Medknow Publications and Media
Keywords: Black flies; Doxycycline; Filariasis; Lymphatic filariasis; Macrofilaricides; Minocycline onchocerciasis; Wolbachia
Depositing User: Ms. Nuraida Ibrahim
Date Deposited: 04 Nov 2020 13:13
Last Modified: 04 Nov 2020 13:13
Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=psasir.upm.edu.my&doi=10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_454_17
URI: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/80694
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