title: Blocking transmission of vector-borne diseases.
abstract: Vector-borne diseases are responsible for significant health problems in humans, as well as in companion and farm animals. Killing the vectors with ectoparasitic drugs before they have the opportunity to pass on their pathogens could be the ideal way to prevent vector borne diseases. Blocking of transmission might work when transmission is delayed during blood meal, as often happens in ticks. The recently described systemic isoxazolines have been shown to successfully prevent disease transmission under conditions of delayed pathogen transfer. However, if the pathogen is transmitted immediately at bite as it is the case with most insects, blocking transmission becomes only possible if ectoparasiticides prevent the vector from landing on or, at least, from biting the host. Chemical entities exhibiting repellent activity in addition to fast killing, like pyrethroids, could prevent pathogen transmission even in cases of immediate transfer. Successful blocking depends on effective action in the context of the extremely diverse life-cycles of vectors and vector-borne pathogens of medical and veterinary importance which are summarized in this review. This complexity leads to important parameters to consider for ectoparasiticide research and when considering the ideal drug profile for preventing disease transmission.
authors.affiliation: Sablons 30, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Electronic address: sandra.schorderet@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schorderet-Weber
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health GmbH, Binger Str. 173, 55216 Ingelheim, Germany. Electronic address: sandra.noack@boehringer-ingelheim.com.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noack
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health GmbH, Binger Str. 173, 55216 Ingelheim, Germany. Electronic address: paul.selzer@boehringer-ingelheim.com.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Selzer
authors.affiliation: ParaC Consulting for Parasitology and Drug Discovery, Altenstein 13, 79685 Haeg-Ehrsberg, Germany. Electronic address: para.C@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaminsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D001733:Bites and Stings; D055808:Drug Discovery; D017053:Infection Control; D007239:Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D011722:Pyrethrins; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D011722:Pyrethrins
keywords: Drug discovery; Speed of kill; Transmission blocking; Vector-borne diseases