Human and Animal Filariases: Landscape, Challenges, and Control (Drug Discovery in Infectious Diseases)

The rational approach to controlling human and animal diseases caused by nematodes

Filariae are a family of parasitic worms which infect animals and humans, causing severe diseases such as elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) and river blindness (onchocerciasis) in humans, as well as heartworm disease (dirofilariasis) in dogs and cats. While the human diseases are rarely fatal, the blindness and disfiguration resulting from these infections constitute a severe burden for the affected individuals and to the healthcare systems in many tropical countries. In 2017, the World Health Organization classified several filariases as neglected tropical diseases and announced a new program seeking to eradicate these infections, which has in turn sparked a new push to develop antifilarial drugs.

Considering the current and future import of this topic, Human and Animal Filariases takes a comprehensive look at infections by filarial parasites in humans and in animals. It begins by reviewing the current state of diagnosis and chemotherapy, before addressing the increasing resistance to available antifilarial drugs. This is followed by strategies and approaches for the discovery of novel drugs and finally by looking at alternative and supplementary approaches to combat the parasites, including vector control and vaccination.

Human and Animal Filariases readers will find:

• A comprehensive approach that integrates current chemotherapy with recent advances in antifilarial drug discovery
• Practical information on assay development, target validation, and required drug product profiles
• Insights from global experts from leading academic institutions as well as from pharma and healthcare companies

Human and Animal Filariases is a unique reference for parasitologists, veterinarians, as well as professionals in the pharmaceutical industry and in public health agencies.

Ronald Kaminsky, PhD, served as Head of Parasitology Research at Novartis Animal Health from 2006 – 2014 and is currently a consultant for antiparasitic drug discovery in the animal health sector. He teaches as a lecturer at the University of Basel and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.

Timothy G. Geary, PhD, is Emeritus Professor and past Director of the Institute of Parasitology at McGill University, Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University-Belfast and a consultant to many animal health companies and other organizations.

Paul M. Selzer, PhD, is currently Head of New Mechanisms Parasitology at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. He is also a visiting professor at the Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry of the University of Tübingen, DE, a teacher at the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, IT, and an honorary professor of the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation at the University of Glasgow, UK.