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Immunity to Onchocerca spp. in animal hosts
David Abraham1, Richard Lucius, Alexander J Trees
1Dept of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, 233 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. david.abraham@mail.tju.edu
Trends in Parasitology
|May 10, 2002
Summary
This review explores how animal models like cattle and mice, using Onchocerca species, help understand human immune responses to the Onchocerca volvulus worm. It highlights vaccine development and immune control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary immunology
- Parasitology
- Tropical medicine
Background:
- Onchocerca volvulus causes human onchocerciasis, a major parasitic disease.
- Understanding protective immunity is crucial for vaccine development.
- Animal models are essential for studying complex filarial worm infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on Onchocerca spp. in animal models for insights into human onchocerciasis.
- To evaluate Acanthocheilonema viteae as a surrogate model.
- To describe immune mechanisms and review vaccine development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies using chimpanzees, cattle, and mice infected with Onchocerca spp.
- Evaluation of Acanthocheilonema viteae as a model organism.
- Analysis of immune responses and vaccine efficacy data.
Main Results:
- Animal models provide valuable insights into protective immunity against Onchocerca volvulus.
- Acanthocheilonema viteae shows promise as a surrogate model for filarial immunity studies.
- Recombinant antigen vaccines have demonstrated initial success in these models.
Conclusions:
- Animal models are indispensable tools for advancing research on onchocerciasis.
- Further development of animal models and vaccines is warranted.
- Immune mechanisms identified in models can inform human intervention strategies.