The case for vaccine development in the strategy to eradicate river blindness (onchocerciasis) from Africa

Makepeace, Benjamin L ORCID: 0000-0002-6100-6727, Babayan, Simon A, Lustigman, Sara and Taylor, David W (2015) The case for vaccine development in the strategy to eradicate river blindness (onchocerciasis) from Africa. EXPERT REVIEW OF VACCINES, 14 (9). pp. 1163-1165. ISSN 1476-0584, 1744-8395

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Abstract

Onchocerciasis or river blindness is a neglected parasitic disease causing severe dermatitis and visual impairment, predominantly in Africa. Historically, onchocerciasis control targeted vector breeding sites, but the current strategy relies on mass administration of a single drug, ivermectin. As programmatic goals shift from reducing public health impact to active elimination, sole reliance on ivermectin is threatened by contraindications in areas coendemic for loiasis, an inability to break transmission in some foci, and the emergence of drug resistance. Here, we argue that prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines would accelerate elimination efforts and safeguard the enormous strides made in onchocerciasis control. These vaccines could be based on one or more of three lead candidates identified by a newly formed transatlantic partnership, The Onchocerciasis Vaccine for Africa Initiative.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Onchocerciasis, Ocular, Vaccines, Immunotherapy, International Cooperation, Disease Transmission, Infectious, Drug Discovery
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	06 Nov 2015 09:44
Last Modified:	07 Dec 2024 15:14
DOI:	10.1586/14760584.2015.1059281
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/2035501