Efficacy of the avermectins against filarial parasites: a short review.
Abstract: The avermectins are macrocyclic lactones produced by Streptomyces avermitilis. One of them has been chemically modified and given the non-proprietary name ivermectin. The compounds have shown efficacy against various stages of filarial parasites. With respect to pre-adult stages in the mammalian host, activity has been observed against Dirofilaria immitis in ferrets and dogs, and Dipetalonema viteae and Litomosoides carinii in jirds (Meriones); but activity has not been observed against the developing stages of Brugia spp. in jirds or Onchocerca spp. in cattle. The compounds have not shown activity against adult filarial worms, except in the case of Setaria equina in horses and possibly Dipetalonema viteae in jirds. With respect to the first state larva (microfilaria) in the mammalian host, efficacy has been observed against Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, Brugia malayi in multimammate rats (Mastomys), Dipetalonema viteae and Litomosoides carinii in jirds and Onchocerca spp. in horses and cattle; but activity has not been observed against microfilariae of Brugia pahangi in jirds or cats. Efficacy against filarial parasites has been observed following oral or parenteral administration of drug, sometimes at extremely low dosage. For example, a single oral dosage of 0.05 mg/kg was highly active against the third and fourth larval stages and microfilariae of D. immitis in dogs.
Publication Date: 1982-05-01 PubMed ID: 7051527DOI: 10.1007/BF02214991Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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This research reviews the effectiveness of avermectins, particularly ivermectin, against various stages of filarial parasites in different host animals. The study finds it effective against certain parasites and larval stages but not against certain developing stages or adult worms, except in few instances.
Overview of the Research
- The paper is essentially a review of the effectuality of avermectins, a group of macrocyclic lactones produced by Streptomyces avermitilis, against filarial parasites. It particularly focuses on ivermectin, which is a chemically modified avermectin.
- The study tests the effectiveness of these compounds against various stages of filarial parasites, including pre-adult stages, adult worms, and first stage larvae (microfilaria) in the mammalian host.
Observations on Pre-Adult Stages
- Research shows that avermectins were particularly effective against Dirofilaria immitis in ferrets and dogs, and Dipetalonema viteae and Litomosoides carinii in jirds (small rodents).
- However, the compounds did not seem to have activity against developing stages of parasites such as Brugia spp. in jirds and Onchocerca spp. in cattle.
Findings on Adult Worms
- Avermectins did not show significant activity against adult filarial worms, with two exceptions. They were effective against Setaria equina in horses, and potentially against Dipetalonema viteae in jirds.
Results against Microfilaria
- When it came to the first stage larvae, or microfilaria, they were effective against Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, Brugia malayi in multimammate rats (Mastomys), Dipetalonema viteae and Litomosoides carinii in jirds, and Onchocerca spp. in horses and cattle.
- But these compounds lacked activity against microfilariae of Brugia pahangi in jirds or cats.
Method and Dosage Exploration
- They have been found to be effective following oral or parenteral (i.e., non-oral) administration of the drug, sometimes even at a very low dosage. For example, a single oral dose of 0.05 mg/kg proved to be highly active against the third and fourth larval stages, and microfilariae of D. immitis in dogs.
Cite This Article
APA
Campbell WC.
(1982).
Efficacy of the avermectins against filarial parasites: a short review.
Vet Res Commun, 5(3), 251-262.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02214991 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / pharmacology
- Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
- Brugia / drug effects
- Brugia / growth & development
- Cattle / parasitology
- Cattle Diseases / drug therapy
- Dirofilaria immitis / drug effects
- Dirofilaria immitis / growth & development
- Dirofilariasis / drug therapy
- Dirofilariasis / veterinary
- Dog Diseases / drug therapy
- Dogs / parasitology
- Ferrets / parasitology
- Filariasis / drug therapy
- Filariasis / veterinary
- Filaricides / therapeutic use
- Filarioidea / drug effects
- Filarioidea / growth & development
- Gerbillinae / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses / parasitology
- Ivermectin
- Lactones / pharmacology
- Lactones / therapeutic use
- Muridae / parasitology
References
This article includes 13 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Henthorn CR, Airs PM, Neumann EK, Zamanian M. Resolving the origins of secretory products and anthelmintic responses in a human parasitic nematode at single-cell resolution.. Elife 2023 Jun 15;12.
- Gallo KJ, Wheeler NJ, Elmi AM, Airs PM, Zamanian M. Pharmacological Profiling of a Brugia malayi Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor as a Putative Antiparasitic Target.. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023 Jan 24;67(1):e0118822.
- Maclean MJ, Lorenz WW, Dzimianski MT, Anna C, Moorhead AR, Reaves BJ, Wolstenholme AJ. Effects of diethylcarbamazine and ivermectin treatment on Brugia malayi gene expression in infected gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).. Parasitol Open 2019;5.
- Risch F, Ritter M, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Human filariasis-contributions of the Litomosoides sigmodontis and Acanthocheilonema viteae animal model.. Parasitol Res 2021 Dec;120(12):4125-4143.
- Sarasombath PT, Thammapalo S, Loymek S, Angkanasinsiri A, Priyavoravong P, Wongkamchai S. First study of topical selamectin efficacy for treating cats naturally infected with Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi under field conditions.. Parasitol Res 2019 Apr;118(4):1289-1297.
- Villarino N, Denny JE, Schmidt NW. Antimalarial activity of tulathromycin in a murine model of malaria.. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015;59(6):3672-4.
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- Lo PK, Fink DW, Williams JB, Blodinger J. Pharmacokinetic studies of ivermectin: effects of formulation.. Vet Res Commun 1985 Sep;9(4):251-68.
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