With drugs to eliminate fleas and ticks could fight malaria



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Photo: Europapress

(Caracas, July 07. EuropaPress) – Medicines given to domestic animals to kill fleas and ticks could be effective in preventing outbreaks of malaria, Zika fever New study conducted by scientists at Calibr, a nonprofit drug research institute closely associated with Scripps Research in the United States, of other insect-borne dangerous diseases infect millions of people worldwide. and TropIQ Health Sciences, a Dutch social enterprise

Researchers have discovered a class of drugs called isoxazolines, which are sold in veterinary products such as fluralaner ("Bravecto") and afoxolaner ("NexGard It also kills domestic animals that kills and kills disease-carrying mosquito species that feed on human blood.

The team's research team, led by Koen Dechering, of TropIQ, and Matt Tremblay, of Calibr, determined by experimental studies on mosquitoes and computer models that give drugs with isoxazoline to less than one-third of the population seasonal outbreaks of insect-borne diseases could prevent up to 97% of all cases of infection, as detailed in an article recently published in "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences"

"Insect-transmitted infectious diseases are still according to Peter Schultz, executive director of" Calibr & # 39; and "Scripps Research & # 39; , the leading causes of serious illness and death around the world and new approaches to prevent outbreaks of these diseases are essential Our results suggest that isoxazolines may be effective in controlling epidemics emitted from diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and other insects They are in areas with a limited medical infrastructure. "

Millions of people contract malaria, zika fever, and other insect-borne diseases every year which are particularly prevalent in the tropics and subtropics. Millions of people have contracted malaria worldwide and 445,000 have died from the disease (mostly children in the African Region), according to the US Centers for Disease Control.Zika, a mosquito-borne disease that can cause birth defects in infants born to infected mothers, has spread rapidly throughout the world in recent years and is now in 90 countries.

Mosquitoes are not the only carriers of these diseases. Leishmaniasis , caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by sandflies, is endemic in parts of Africa, South America, the Middle East and Africa. India, although they are less common than malaria, leishmaniasis forms that affect internal organs can be fatal if left untreated.

" Research into insect-borne diseases focused mainly on control of insect populations through the use of insecticides and the prevention of bites through distribution of mosquito nets, but these approaches have not been totally effective in controlling epidemics – says Koen Dechering, of TropIQ Health Sciences.In most diseases, vaccines are lacking and drugs to treat people who contracted the disease lose their effectiveness because of emerging resistance. "

UP TO 70% OF LESS CASES

The international research team analyzed a new strategy for the ability to administer isoxazolines at the same time. man to block the transmission of diseases by insects Isoxazolines are sold in veterinary products such as fluralaner & # 39; Bra vecto & # 39;) and afoxolaner (& # 39; NexGard & # 39;), which protect pets from fleas and ticks

. Medications are absorbed into the bloodstream and spread throughout the body of the animal, where they remain active for up to three months. Although they are well tolerated in dogs and cats, the drugs kill fleas and blood-sucking ticks that feed on the blood of treated animals by damaging the insects' nervous system.

Scientists from & # 39; Calibr & # 39; and & # 39; TropIQ & # 39; and their collaborators tested two of the drugs, fluralaner and afoxolaner, and discovered that they also killed mosquito species carrying diseases and sandy flies that feed on human blood infused with insecticides. The drugs were also effective against insect strains resistant to common insecticides.

Based on existing data from studies on animal drugs, the researchers estimated that a single human dose of these drugs would transmit an insecticidal effect against mosquitoes and sand flies. a duration of 50-90 days.

Observing the incidence of malaria, its modeling has shown that in areas with low seasonal transmission, such as Senegal, Sudan, Madagascar, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe that administer 30-fold isoxazolines. % of the population could prevent more than 70% of infections . The regions with the highest number of cases and outbreaks throughout the year would see a lower percentage of reduction, but the overall reduction in these areas could be dramatic.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has between 16 and 20 million cases of malaria a year For example, a reduction of 30% would prevent up to 6 million cases. According to safety studies of the use of isoxazoline in animals, drugs have a great chance of being safe if they are used in humans. The research team plans to evaluate the effectiveness of drugs in humans and predict that these studies will last about two years.


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