Anti-<i>Wolbachia</i> therapy for onchocerciasis & lymphatic filariasis: Current perspectives.



Wan Sulaiman, Wan Aliaa ORCID: 0000-0003-4969-0308, Kamtchum-Tatuene, Joseph ORCID: 0000-0002-1041-4202, Mohamed, Mohd Hazmi, Ramachandran, Vasudevan ORCID: 0000-0003-0044-1626, Ching, Siew Mooi, Sazlly Lim, Sazlyna Mohd, Hashim, Hasnur Zaman, Inche Mat, Liyana Najwa, Hoo, Fan Kee ORCID: 0000-0003-1687-627X and Basri, Hamidon
(2019) Anti-<i>Wolbachia</i> therapy for onchocerciasis & lymphatic filariasis: Current perspectives. The Indian journal of medical research, 149 (6). pp. 706-714.

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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.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Animals, Humans, Wolbachia, Elephantiasis, Filarial, Onchocerciasis, Albendazole, Doxycycline, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Drug Therapy, Combination, Tropical Medicine, Adult, India, Neglected Diseases
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 18 Sep 2019 09:21
Last Modified: 26 Jan 2024 05:13
DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_454_17
Open Access URL: http://10.0.16.7/ijmr.IJMR_454_17
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3055062