Research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in Africa
Onchocerciasis is a parasitic, vector borne disease caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. More than 99% of the population at risk of infection live in Africa. Onchocerciasis control was initiated in West Africa in 1974 with vector control, later complemented by ivermectin mass drug ad...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2016-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221132071630015X |
| _version_ | 1818241605806587904 |
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| author | Annette C. Kuesel |
| author_facet | Annette C. Kuesel |
| author_sort | Annette C. Kuesel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Onchocerciasis is a parasitic, vector borne disease caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. More than 99% of the population at risk of infection live in Africa. Onchocerciasis control was initiated in West Africa in 1974 with vector control, later complemented by ivermectin mass drug administration and in the other African endemic countries in 1995 with annual community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI.) This has significantly reduced infection prevalence. Together with proof-of-concept for onchocerciasis elimination with annual CDTI from foci in Senegal and Mali, this has resulted in targeting onchocerciasis elimination in selected African countries by 2020 and in 80% of African countries by 2025. The challenges for meeting these targets include the number of endemic countries where conflict has delayed or interrupted control programmes, cross-border foci, potential emergence of parasite strains with low susceptibility to ivermectin and co-endemicity of loiasis, another parasitic vector borne disease, which slows down or prohibits CDTI implementation. Some of these challenges could be addressed with new drugs or drug combinations with a higher effect on Onchocerca volvulus than ivermectin. This paper reviews the path from discovery of new compounds to their qualification for large scale use and the support regulatory authorities provide for development of drugs for neglected tropical diseases. The status of research for new drugs or treatment regimens for onchocerciasis along the path to regulatory approval and qualification for large scale use is reviewed. This research includes new regimens and combinations of ivermectin and albendazole, antibiotics targeting the O. volvulus endosymbiont Wolbachia, flubendazole, moxidectin and emodepside and discovery of new compounds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:32:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66360e8377824694ad7ba011a065192a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-3207 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:32:00Z |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance |
| spelling | doaj.art-66360e8377824694ad7ba011a065192a2022-12-22T00:23:02ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance2211-32072016-12-016327228610.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.04.002Research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in AfricaAnnette C. KueselOnchocerciasis is a parasitic, vector borne disease caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. More than 99% of the population at risk of infection live in Africa. Onchocerciasis control was initiated in West Africa in 1974 with vector control, later complemented by ivermectin mass drug administration and in the other African endemic countries in 1995 with annual community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI.) This has significantly reduced infection prevalence. Together with proof-of-concept for onchocerciasis elimination with annual CDTI from foci in Senegal and Mali, this has resulted in targeting onchocerciasis elimination in selected African countries by 2020 and in 80% of African countries by 2025. The challenges for meeting these targets include the number of endemic countries where conflict has delayed or interrupted control programmes, cross-border foci, potential emergence of parasite strains with low susceptibility to ivermectin and co-endemicity of loiasis, another parasitic vector borne disease, which slows down or prohibits CDTI implementation. Some of these challenges could be addressed with new drugs or drug combinations with a higher effect on Onchocerca volvulus than ivermectin. This paper reviews the path from discovery of new compounds to their qualification for large scale use and the support regulatory authorities provide for development of drugs for neglected tropical diseases. The status of research for new drugs or treatment regimens for onchocerciasis along the path to regulatory approval and qualification for large scale use is reviewed. This research includes new regimens and combinations of ivermectin and albendazole, antibiotics targeting the O. volvulus endosymbiont Wolbachia, flubendazole, moxidectin and emodepside and discovery of new compounds.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221132071630015XOnchocerciasisEliminationAfricaDiscoveryDrug developmentImplementation research |
| spellingShingle | Annette C. Kuesel Research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in Africa International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance Onchocerciasis Elimination Africa Discovery Drug development Implementation research |
| title | Research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in Africa |
| title_full | Research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in Africa |
| title_short | Research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in Africa |
| title_sort | research for new drugs for elimination of onchocerciasis in africa |
| topic | Onchocerciasis Elimination Africa Discovery Drug development Implementation research |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221132071630015X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annetteckuesel researchfornewdrugsforeliminationofonchocerciasisinafrica |