BookBrij Kishore Tyagi, editor.
Summary: Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is a group of human and animal infectious diseases caused by nematode parasites of the order Filariidae. Often neglected, it is one of the oldest and the most debilitating tropical diseases (NTDs), transmitted from human to human by mosquitoes bites, particularly the brown black mosquito known as Culex quinquifasciatus. LF is a major public health problem in many parts of the tropics, especially India, which accounts for as much as 40% of total global cases. As a leading cause of permanent and long-term disability worldwide, the parasite infection imposes a severe physical and socioeconomic burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.4 billion people live in high-risk areas - 120 million of which are already infected with LF, including 22 million children below the age of 15 and about 76 million who suffer from damaged lymphatic and renal systems. India has made great strides toward eliminating the disease, and these advances are of global significance. They include early diagnosis mechanisms, vaccine product development, detection of parasites in the vector, and studies on parasite evolution trends in nature as warning signals. Reports on the successes and failures are needed to enable measures to be taken to avoid disaster and ensure a smooth transition from endemicity in India to the elimination of lymphatic filariasis by 2020. This book, which gathers highly original contributions on various subjects related to lymphatic filariasis, discusses the latest scientific research that will help the nation to achieve this milestone. It also serves as a guide to many other countries struggling against this highly debilitating and incapacitating disease.
Contents:
Intro; Dedication; Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgement; Contents; About the Editor;
1: Epidemiology of Lymphatic Filariasis; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 Filariasis Control Globally and in India; 1.3 Geographical Distribution; 1.4 Transmission Cycle; 1.5 Reservoir of Infection; 1.6 The Vectors; 1.7 Host Factors; 1.8 Environmental Factors; 1.9 Pathogenesis; 1.10 Clinical Features; 1.11 Infection/Disease Surveillance; 1.12 Current Control Strategy of Lymphatic Filariasis; 1.13 Conclusion; References;
2: Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination: Update for Mission Possible; 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 National Filaria Control Programme2.3 Organization Set-Up Recommended for NFCP; 2.4 Disease Endemicity; 2.5 Control Measures; 2.6 Genesis of Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (ELF); 2.7 National Goal and Strategy for ELF; 2.8 Mass Drug Administration; 2.9 Drug Compliance Assessment; 2.10 Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS); 2.11 Capacity Building; 2.12 Social Mobilization; 2.13 Morbidity Management; 2.14 Future Plan; References;
3: Next Step Lymphatic Filariasis Eradication: Current Status in the Development of a Vaccine Against Lymphatic Filariasis; 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Development of Immunity Against LF3.2.1 Concept of "Endemic Normal" and Natural Immunity to LF; 3.2.2 The Need for Developing a Vaccine Against LF in the Human; 3.3 Developing a Vaccine Against LF; 3.3.1 Early Attempts to Develop a Vaccine Against LF; 3.3.2 Strategies for Selecting the Vaccine Antigens Against LF; 3.3.3 LF Parasites Modulate Host Immune Responses; 3.3.4 Animal Models and Limitations to Developing a Vaccine Against LF; 3.3.5 Screening Filariasis Genome to Identify Vaccine Candidates; 3.3.6 Improving the Vaccine Efficacy. 3.4 Future Prospects and Hurdles Before an LF Vaccine Becomes Available for the End Game to Control the Infection3.5 Concluding Remarks; References;
4: Progress in the Treatment and Control of Lymphatic Filariasis; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 B. malayi Targets; 4.3 Wolbachia; 4.4 Wolbachia as Antifilarial Target; 4.5 Moxidectin; 4.6 Conclusion and Prospects; References;
5: Immunotechnological Advancements in Developing Vaccines for Lymphatic Filariasis; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Filarial Vaccines: Possible or Impossible?; 5.3 Challenges; 5.4 Animal Models for Vaccine Studies. 5.5 Milestones in LF Vaccination Studies5.5.1 Parasites and Crude Antigens; 5.5.2 Recombinant Filarial Vaccine Candidates; 5.6 Identification Methods for LF Vaccine Targets; 5.7 Different Categories of LF Vaccine Candidates; 5.7.1 Host-Parasite Interface: A Niche for Vaccine Candidates; 5.7.2 Metabolic Enzymes: Antioxidants; 5.8 Infective Stage-Specific Antigens; 5.8.1 Abundant Larval Transcripts (ALT): A Prototype L3 Stage Candidate Antigen; 5.8.2 Modern Approaches for LF Vaccine Development; 5.9 Immunomics: Identification of Immunogenic Proteins; 5.10 Peptide Vaccine Approach.