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J Parasit Dis Diagn Ther 2017 | Volume 2 Issue 4
International Conference on
Zoology, Microbiology & Medical Parasitology
October 30-November 01, 2017 | Chicago, USA
Genetic diversity, molecular markers and population genetics of human lymphatic filarial parasites
S L Hoti
ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, India
L
ymphatic filariasis (LF) is one of the most disfiguring
diseases and a major public health problem in tropical
world. The disease is caused majorly by
Wuchereria
bancrofti
, and to smaller extent by
Brugia malayi
and
B.
timori
. It transmitted by mosquito vectors belonging to
genera
Culex, Anopheles, Aedes
and/or
Mansonia
. Currently,
LF is targeted for elimination with Mass Drug Administration
of a combination of Diethyl carbamazine/Ivermectine and
Albendazole as a tool. Several rounds of MDA have already
been administered in several LF endemic countries. However,
there is a continuance of parasite prevalence in some areas
despite repeated rounds of MDA. This could be due to genetic
variations in the parasite strains that may not be responding
to the antifilarial drug administered. These variations
could be the result of various factors such as geographic
isolation, infra-population or refugia, environmental factors
and drug pressure. The long term administration of drug in
the elimination programme itself might have lead to this
phenomenon or wide geographic distribution spanning
continents might have effected variation. Investigating
genetic variations among these variants may reveal the
differential response to the antifilarial drugs and such
studies are important for devising the drug administration
strategies. In summary, there is a need to understand the
genetic variation among the parasite populations in different
LF endemic areas for which there is a need to develop
appropriate markers. This review discusses the biological,
physiological and genetic variations among LF parasites.
Speaker Biography
S.L Hoti is currently working as Scientist-G and Director in charge in ICMR-National
Institute of Traditional Medicine,India.
e:
slhoti@yahoo.com