Of mice, cattle, and humans: the immunology and treatment of river blindness.

• Published in: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Judith E Allen, Ohene Adjei, Odile Bain, Achim Hoerauf, Wolfgang H Hoffmann, Benjamin L Makepeace, Hartwig Schulz-Key, Vincent N Tanya, Alexander J Trees, Samuel Wanji, David W Taylor
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2008
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0000217; https://doaj.org/article/9d1f33605a1b4e62a09a3c957b063a9e

River blindness is a seriously debilitating disease caused by the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus, which infects millions in Africa as well as in South and Central America. Research has been hampered by a lack of good animal models, as the parasite can only develop fully in humans and some primates. This review highlights the development of two animal model systems that have allowed significant advances in recent years and hold promise for the future. Experimental findings with Litomosoides sigmodontis in mice and Onchocerca ochengi in cattle are placed in the context of how these models can advance our ability to control the human disease.