Recent updates on onchocerciasis: diagnosis and treatment.
Recent progress in onchocerciasis research has led to improved understanding of the immunopathology of Onchocerca volvulus, as well as improvements in diagnosis and treatment of this morbid disease. This article reviews the recent literature, highlighting breakthroughs in sensitive means of antigen testing and an unusual new approach to therapy that targets an endosymbiotic bacterium required for filarial worm fecundity.
Udall
Don N
DN
University of California-San Diego, Dermatology Clinical Trials Unit, La Jolla, CA 92037-1300, USA. dudall@uscd.edu
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D007559:Ivermectin