[ad_1]
Madrid, July 7 (EUROPA PRESS) .- Medicines given to domestic animals to kill fleas and ticks could effectively prevent epidemics of malaria, zika fever and other dangerous diseases transmitted by insects infecting millions of people. According to a new study by scientists at Calibr, a nonprofit drug discovery institute closely associated with "Scripps Research" in the United States and "TropIQ Health Sciences", a Dutch social enterprise.
The researchers found that a class of drugs called isoxazolines, which are sold in veterinary products such as fluralaner ("Bravecto") and afoxolaner ("NexGard") to protect animals from fleas and ticks, also kills mosquito species carrying diseases that feed on human blood.
The research team, led by Koen Dechering, of TropIQ, and Matt Tremblay, of Calibr, determined through experimental studies on mosquitoes and computer models that the administration of drugs containing Isoxazoline at less than one-third of the population in areas prone to seasonal epidemics could prevent up to 97% of cases. of infection, as detailed in an article published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"Infectious diseases transmitted by insects are still the leading causes of serious diseases and deaths worldwide and are needed Peter Schultz, Executive Director of" Calibr & Scripps & Research & " Stated that new critical approaches are needed to prevent outbreaks of these diseases.Our results suggest that isoxazolines may be effective in controlling outbreaks of mosquito and other insect-borne diseases in areas with limited medical infrastructure. "
Millions of people contract each year malaria, Zika fever and other diseases that are transmitted by insects that are particularly common in the tropics and subtropics. In 2016, about 216 million people became infected with malaria worldwide and 445,000 died of the disease (mainly 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 across the planet 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 India. Although less common than malaria, forms of leishmaniasis that affect internal organs can be fatal if left untreated.
"Research on insect-borne diseases has focused mainly on control of insect populations by According to Koen Dechering, of TropIQ Health Sciences, these methods have not been fully effective in combating In most diseases, vaccines are lacking and drugs to treat people who have contracted the disease lose their effectiveness due to emerging resistance. "
Up to 70% fewer cases [19659003L'équipederechercheinternationaleaanalyséunenouvellestratégielapossibilitéd'administrerdesisoxazolinesàl'hommepourbloquerlatransmissiondemaladiesparlesinsectesLesisoxazolinessontvenduesdansdesproduitsvétérinairestelsquelefluralaner"Bravecto"etl'afoxolaner("NexGard")quiprotègentlesanimauxcontrelespucesetlestiques
When & # 39; they are administered orally, the drugs are absorbed in the current blood and spread throughout the body of the animal, where they remain active for 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 his collaborators tested two of the drugs, fluralaner and afoxolaner, and discovered that they were also killing mosquito species carrying diseases and sandy flies that were feeding on human blood impregnated with. insecticides. The drugs were also effective against insect strains resistant to common insecticides.
Based on existing data from studies of 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, Isoxazolines at 30% 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 anticipate that these studies will take about two years.
[ad_2]
Source link
