Helminth Diseases
Helminth diseases are caused by parasitic worms that can be classified as either nematodes, cestodes or trematodes. Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), which is one of the most devastating NID's, is caused by nematode worms, and nematodes include also the soil-transmitted (or gastrointestinal) helminths, causing ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection. The Cestodes include tapeworms of the Taenia and Echinococcus families, whereas Schistosomiasis is caused by worms of the trematode family.
| PRIORITY DISEASES |
Infectious Agent |
| KEY RESEARCH GAPS |
| Discovery and Development |
Disease Control and Implementation Research |
|
| Lympathic filariasis (Elephantiasis) |
Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori nematode worms |
| Drugs (adult worm), drug resi stance, animal models, vaccine |
Robust, easy and affordable diagnostics, improved vector control |
|
| Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) |
Schistosoma flatworms |
| Vaccines, drug resistance |
Diagnostics, improved vector control |
|
| Ascariasis |
Ascaris lumbricoides |
| Vaccines, drug efficacy |
Easy and affordable diagnostics, improved vector control |
|
| Trichuriasis |
Trichuris trichiura (whipworm). |
| Vaccines |
Easy and affordable diagnostics, improved vector control |
|
| Hookworm |
Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus |
| Drugs and drug targets; drug resistance, vaccines |
Easy and affordable diagnostics, improved vector control |
|
