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Wolbachia endobacteria depletion by doxycycline as antifilarial therapy has macrofilaricidal activity in onchocerciasis: a randomized placebo-controlled study

2007; Springer Science+Business Media; Volume: 197; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/s00430-007-0062-1

1432-1831

Achim Hoerauf, Sabine Specht, Marcelle Büttner, Kenneth Pfarr, Sabine Mand, Rolf Fimmers, Yeboah Marfo‐Debrekyei, Peter Konadu, Alexander Yaw Debrah, Claudio Bandi, Norbert W. Brattig, Anna Albers, John Asiedu Larbi, Linda Batsa Debrah, Ohene Adjei, Dietrich W. Büttner,

Insects and Parasite Interactions

In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Ghana, 67 onchocerciasis patients received 200-mg/day doxycycline for 4–6 weeks, followed by ivermectin (IVM) after 6 months. After 6–27 months, efficacy was evaluated by onchocercoma histology, PCR and microfilariae determination. Administration of doxycycline resulted in endobacteria depletion and female worm sterilization. The 6-week treatment was macrofilaricidal, with >60% of the female worms found dead, despite the presence of new, Wolbachia-containing worms acquired after the administration of doxycycline. Doxycycline may be developed as second-line drug for onchocerciasis, to be administered in areas without transmission, in foci with IVM resistance and in areas with Loa co-infections.