Lymphatic Filarial Infections: An Introduction to the Filariae

Check list of parasites and bacteria recorded from pangolins (Manis sp.)

“…The helminth Brugia malayi was reported in a wide range of hosts including long tailed macaque, leafmonkey, cat, civet cat, pangolin (M. javanica) and human in Southeast Asia (Wilson 1961;Kazura 2002). Similarly Brugia pahangi was reported form cat, civet cats, dog, tiger, slow loris, moonrat, giant squirrel and pangolin (M. javanica) in Malaysia (Wilson 1961).…”

The development and utilization of an in vivo RNA interference protocol to elucidate gene functions and identify potential drug targets in the filarial nematode Brugia malayi

“…Lymphedema can occur in the legs and arms of the infected individual, but it can also occur in the breast as well [45]. In addition to the accumulation of fluid in the arm, leg, breast and/or scrotum resulting from an impaired lymph system, bacterial infection of the skin and lymph system readily takes place resulting in pachyderma, the thickening and hardening of the affected skin [52].…”

“…DEC administration to patients who also have onchocerciasis have lead to the worsening of onchocerciasis related vision-loss [76]. In co-endemic regions, ivermectin is used in place of DEC [45]. The use of ivermectin on patients co-infected with O. volvulus is generally safe but in rare incidences serious and sometimes fatal adverse reactions have occurred [19], but the pathogenesis for this toxic syndrome in humans has yet been resolved [77,78].…”

“…Despite the success of GPELF reported so far, there is no convincing evidence that the GPELF goal of complete lymphatic filarial worm elimination can be achieved [45]. For one, the lack of cooperation or inappropriate use of anti-filarial drugs by at risk or infected individuals poses a significant challenge for the success of the GPELF program.…”

“…Unfortunately both drugs are only effective as microfilaricides. Unlike ivermectin, which appears to have little to no macrofilaricidal activity against adult filarial worms, DEC has been found to kill up to 40% of the adult worms [45,86,87], but this macrofilaricidal activity of DEC is insufficient to cure an infected individual.…”