title: Of mice, cattle, and humans: the immunology and treatment of river blindness.
abstract: River blindness is a seriously debilitating disease caused by the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus, which infects millions in Africa as well as in South and Central America. Research has been hampered by a lack of good animal models, as the parasite can only develop fully in humans and some primates. This review highlights the development of two animal model systems that have allowed significant advances in recent years and hold promise for the future. Experimental findings with Litomosoides sigmodontis in mice and Onchocerca ochengi in cattle are placed in the context of how these models can advance our ability to control the human disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Ohene
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoerauf
authors.forename: Wolfgang H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Benjamin L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Makepeace
authors.forename: Hartwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schulz-Key
authors.forename: Vincent N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Tanya
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Trees
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanji
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015827:Onchocerciasis, Ocular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D007559:Ivermectin